Social capital: a positive outcome of a COVID-19 induced dental course.

In 2020, the World Health Organisation recommended closure of universities due to COVID-19.1 Virtual learning platforms were adapted for didactic dental education.2 Although virtual learning is an effective alternative,3 creating a virtual course where cognitive development is underpinned by preclinical learning is challenging. However, could remote learning improve social capital through shared values and understanding between individuals engaged in remote learning context? This study describes the integration of educational technologies applied in a preclinical course (orthodontics) and examines mechanisms influencing social capital.