This study attempted to determine the effects of early patient contact through clinic experience upon the perceptions and attitudes of first year dental students. Questionnaires were administered at the beginning and end of students' first year in an innovative and new dental school where they were introduced to clinic experience within the first few months. There was further opportunity for patient exposure at a clinic in an economically depressed area. The analysis focused upon: the students' perceptions of (1) their patients; (2) the dental profession; and (3) themselves. At issue was: whether perceptions and attitudes had changed; to what degree and in what direction the changes had occurred; and what influence clinical experience had exerted in these changes. The findings were compared with similar studies done at schools where first year students had had not clinical experience. The results indicated that 19 of the 23 subjects had adopted more positive attitudes toward patients, in marked contrast to the results of the other studies. In terms of the profession there was a growing cognizance of reality factors, both positive and negative; and in terms of self-perceptions, the subjects moved rapidly toward a position of viewing self as dentist and feeling more confident and competent in playing professional roles in the clinic. (AF)