Abstract
BACKGROUND: Professional and personal values play a crucial role in dentistry, influencing clinical conduct and ethical decision-making. Developing a strong professional identity is a key goal of dental education. This study aimed to explore undergraduate dental students' perceptions of professional values, assess how they prioritize these values, and examine the impact of academic performance, year of study, and gender on value prioritization. METHODS: A cross-sectional, quantitative, descriptive study was conducted among undergraduate dental students at Taibah University using convenience sampling. Participants completed an online questionnaire using a Likert scale to rate the importance of various professional values. Data were analyzed to identify trends and differences based on gender, academic year, and GPA. RESULTS: Students ranked conservation and openness to change as the most important value domains, followed by self-transcendence. Self-enhancement values received the lowest ratings overall but appeared more influential during the transition from preclinical to clinical training. Value prioritization patterns closely aligned with those reported by dental educators, indicating a shared professional perspective. Value development progressed with academic advancement. No significant gender-based differences were found, but higher GPA correlated with a greater appreciation for openness to change. CONCLUSIONS: Dental students value professionalism, adaptability, and ethical responsibility, with priorities evolving throughout their academic journey. This suggests a cohesive professional culture within the field. High-achieving students showed greater openness to change, highlighting the role of academic success in shaping professional values. These insights support the need for dental curricula that foster the development of professional identity and ethical commitment from early stages of education.