Numerous studies have investigated prevalent personality types among dental students with a view to the predictive value for success in training. A new systematic review has found that the two predominant personality profiles of dental students in the US have changed over the past 50 years. The study involved the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, which categorises personalities into 16 types according to the dimensions of extraversion/introversion, sensing/intuition, thinking/feeling and judging/perceiving. The study found that, while the extraversion–sensing–thinking–judging personality type remains prevalent, the extraversion–sensing–feeling–judging type has been replaced by the introversion–sensing–thinking–judging type. Dental Tribune International spoke with lead author Dr Chenshuang Li, assistant professor and clinical director of the orthodontic clinic at the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in the US, about the findings.