OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to improve students' ability in practical and theoretical courses of oral health education and to promote students' learning interest and initiative.

METHODSFourth-year students of the oral medical profession from 2006 to 2008 at Weifang Medical University were chosen as research objects for oral health education to explore the experimental teaching reform. The students were divided into test and control groups, with the test group using the "speak out" way of teaching and the control group using the traditional teaching method. Results of after-class evaluation of the test group, as well as final examination and practice examination of the two groups, were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSAfter-class evaluation results of the test group showed that the "speak out" teaching method was recognized by the students and improved students' ability to understand oral health education. The final examination and practice examination results showed that the score of the test group was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION"Speak out" teaching methods can improve students' ability for oral health education, in accordance with the trend of teaching reform.