Objectives: Critical thinking is a purposeful and logical mode of thinking employed in decision-making, problem-solving, and mastery of concepts. The cultivation of critical thinking is considered one of the primary objectives of higher education, particularly in medical education. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the critical thinking skills of dental students at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences during the 2023–2024 academic year
Methods: This descriptive–analytical study was conducted among dental students. Data were collected using the California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST), Form B, along with a demographic questionnaire including age, gender, and year of entry. A total of 104 students completed the questionnaires. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, and Mann–Whitney U test. All statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS version 26. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The mean overall critical thinking score of first-year students was 9.46 ± 2.46 (low level), while that of final-year students was 13.65 ± 3.85 (moderate level). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant at the 5% significance level (p < 0.05). No statistically significant association was observed between critical thinking scores and gender.
Conclusion: Although a statistically significant difference was found between first-year and final-year students, the improvement in critical thinking skills among final-year students was not satisfactory. These findings highlight the need for both quantitative and qualitative revisions in educational programs and greater emphasis on teaching critical thinking and conceptual skills within the dental curriculum.