Journal of Oral Health and Oral Epidemiology

Journal of Oral Health and Oral Epidemiology

Cinedentistry: Using Movies to Improve Students’ Understanding of Oral Medicine

Document Type : Short Communication(s)

Authors
Hamed Mortazavi 1
Mohammad Reza Khami 2, 3
1 Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Research Center for Caries Prevention, Dentistry Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Community Oral Health, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
10.34172/johoe.1770
Abstract
Background: Traditional methods in dental education, while foundational, may lack emotional and contextual resonance necessary for deep understanding. Integrating cinema into education—an approach termed ‘cinedentistry’—may provide a novel, engaging supplement.
Methods: This narrative study employed metaphorical analysis of three cinematic works—First Blood, Split, and Ran—to illustrate three complex oral conditions: Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (OPMDs), Oral Lichen Planus (OLP), and Oral Opportunistic Infections (OOIs). We mapped clinical features of each condition against thematic and character elements of the corresponding films.
Results: Cinematic parallels provided meaningful metaphors: Rambo’s trauma reflected the progression of OPMDs; the dissociative identities in Split mirrored the clinical diversity of OLP; and the power dynamics in Ran metaphorically illustrated the immune compromise underlying OOIs.
Conclusion: Framing oral diseases through cinematic narratives enhances student engagement, promotes retention, and fosters deeper understanding of disease processes. Cinedentistry represents a promising adjunct to traditional pedagogy.
Keywords
Cinedentistry
Oral medicine
Medical education
Cinema in education
Oral pathology
Teaching innovation
Subjects
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Journal of Oral Health and Oral Epidemiology
Volume 15
Pages 1-5

  • Receive Date 04 August 2025
  • Revise Date 10 November 2025
  • Accept Date 03 October 2026