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The oral health education system is in need of major reform! This is especially apparent in university-based education for the health professions. So-called preclinical as well as clinical education simply has not kept pace with or been responsive enough to shifting patient demographics and patient/population desires and expectations, changing health system expectations, evolving interdisciplinary expertise and practice requirements, new scientific discoveries and scientific information, focus on quality improvement, and/or integration of emerging technologies. Moreover, university-based "dental education" is the most costly professional degree education within the entire university portfolio, and dental student accumulated debt is increasing each year well beyond national inflation estimates. Today, we have an enormous opportunity to explore major reforms in health professional education. Through the Santa Fe "process" of open and candid engagements and discussions (see www.santafegroup.org), we advance an argument as well as a national strategy that can enable major reforms in the oral health education system. We further suggest that major revisions can result in an outcome-based education system that prepares oral health professionals to meet both the needs of patients/families/communities and the requirements of a changing health system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents position papers approved by the American Association of Dental Schools (AADS) related to dental education in the U.S. It mentions incorporation of peer review in dental school curricula provides an opportunity to learn skills of working with other practitioners and learn actual clinical skills. AADS believes that federal funds must be included to finance basic healthcare benefits.

Accreditation standards require U.S. dental schools to prepare their graduates for the diagnosis of treatment needs of patients with special health care needs (SHCN). The objective of this study was to explore dental students' perceptions of their education about these issues, their satisfaction with this education, and their professional attitudes and behavioral intentions concerning treating patients with SHCN in the future. Web-based survey data were collected from forty-nine dental student leaders in thirteen U.S. dental schools and paper-and-pencil survey data from 397 dental students at a Midwestern dental school. Most respondents agreed that it is important to be educated about providing care for patients with SHCN and that they will provide care for these patients in the future. However, their satisfaction with their education was not equally positive. Their perceived quality of their dental education was correlated with their confidence concerning treating SHCN patients; their confidence was in turn correlated with their intentions to include these patients in their patient families in their future professional lives. In conclusion, dental students are strongly motivated to learn about providing care for patients with SHCN. The better their dental education prepares them for this task, the more confident they will be when treating these patients and the more likely they will be to provide care for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social determinants of health (SDH) impact the overall health and well-being of the entire population. It is imperative to train future health care professionals to develop an understanding of the impact of these determinants, so they can provide contextual treatment more conscious of the culturally, racially, and socioeconomically diverse populations they will care for during their careers. This article, the second in a series of American Dental Education Association Commission on Change and Innovation in Dental Education 2.0 white papers on SDH, introduces a conceptual framework adapted from the original framework presented by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine that can be applied to predoctoral dental curricula. This framework is organized into three domains: education, organization, and community. The domains are explained, and examples of current implementation efforts at several academic dental institutions are provided to help dental educators envision how to incorporate these concepts into their own curricula.

The anatomical sciences form one of the major building blocks of the basic medical sciences in the professional training of dentists. This paper defines the courses and classifies the formats of teaching for each course within the anatomical sciences curriculum. Information was gathered from the Internet, specifically the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) website links to U.S. and Canadian dental schools and their online catalogues or bulletins as well as online course syllabi. The results demonstrate the distribution of schools in the United States and Canada teaching anatomical sciences in the following categories: stand-alone, sequential, and multifaceted courses for gross anatomy; stand-alone and integrated courses for histology; stand-alone, integrated, incorporated, and no course for neuroanatomy; and stand-alone, incorporated, and no course in embryology. This paper concludes with the proposition that a survey of the usage of anatomical knowledge in use in a typical dental general practice needs to be conducted. The results of such a survey need to be evaluated with the intention of determining what should be taught in a dental clinical anatomical sciences curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent intense attention given to the existence of racial and ethnic health care disparities in the United States has resulted in an enhanced focus on the problem and a call to integrate cultural competence training into health professions curricula. While most dental schools have formally integrated cultural competence into their curricula, the professional literature contains little information regarding the specific types of curriculum modifications necessary to prepare culturally competent dentists. The purpose of this article is to communicate the process and materials used to develop and present didactic curriculum content incorporating cultural competence and to report early data regarding its effectiveness in improving students' knowledge and self-awareness regarding cultural competence. The preliminary observation of differences between pre-test and post-test scores suggests that the curriculum content may have contributed to developing students' cultural knowledge and self-awareness. Students' reflection papers also provided qualitative evidence that experience with the curriculum modules was transformational for some. Recommendations for future curriculum modifications and follow-up research studies to validate the instrument are discussed.

The goal of interprofessional education (IPE) is to bring various professional groups together in the educational environment to promote collaborative practice and improve the health care of patients. Interest in IPE has been sparked by several factors in the health care system, including the increased awareness of oral-systemic connections, an aging population, the shift of the burden of illness from acute to chronic care, and lack of access to basic oral care. Increasingly, since the publication of the U.S. surgeon general's report in 2000, the dialogue surrounding IPE in dentistry has escalated. But how has dentistry changed regarding IPE since the report was released? This position paper argues that little has changed in the way dental students are taught and prepared to participate in IPE. The authors contend that academic dentistry and organized dentistry must take the lead in initiating and demanding IPE if dental students are to be prepared to work in the health care environment of the twenty-first century. Included are reasons why IPE is necessary and why dentistry must lead the conversation and participate in the solution to the oral health care crisis. It explores existing models and alternate approaches to IPE, barriers to implementation, and proposed strategies for academic institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to review trends in the teaching of posterior composites in the United States, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom over the last fifteen years. The authors compared the results of surveys of the teaching of posterior composites performed in 1989, 1997, and 2004-05. Historical and contemporary international trends were investigated. The amount of clinical and didactic teaching of posterior composites has increased over the past fifteen years. From a time over fifteen years ago, when very few dental students placed posterior composites in dental school, approximately one-third of posterior plastic restorations placed by U.S., Irish, and UK dental students are now composite, with the corresponding finding for Canadian dental schools being approximately 50 percent. Some variations were noted between dental schools in terms of the teaching of contraindications to placement as well as lining and basing techniques. There was some inappropriate teaching of techniques, in particular, in relation to the use of transparent matrix bands and light transmitting wedges. There was also evidence of limited student exposure to newer forms of technology, notably LED curing light units. There have been clear increases in the teaching of posterior composites in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland in recent years; however, the proportion of posterior composite restorations placed by dental students relative to dental amalgams does not yet match the typical situation in contemporary clinical practice. Dental schools have a responsibility to ensure that their curricula are evidence-based to best prepare their students to meet the needs and expectations of their future patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major trend at all levels of education in recent years has been the advent of distance learning and, more specifically, the use of computers and communications capabilities to provide online learning. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which distance learning and online technologies are being employed by dental schools in the United States and Canada. Two groups were surveyed: academic deans and faculty members of U.S. and Canadian dental schools. Thirty-eight academic deans responded to a paper-based survey, and more than 400 faculty members responded to a web-based survey. The results of these surveys indicate that online delivery of content and information has a bright future in the delivery of the dental school curriculum. At the same time, formidable obstacles must be addressed for this approach to be successful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a discussion of curricular planning with respect to primary care dentistry. It is meant to be anticipatory, although the proposals contained are transitional and evolutionary rather than abrupt. It is intended to be suggestive rather than authoritarian and exemplary rather than definitive. Many of the recommendations and suggestions are already operative in dental education, albeit in limited or experimental form. An overview of both the content and the process of a primary care dental curriculum is presented, and several specific recommendations for curricular change are submitted. Among the more salient recommendations are (1) changing the admissions process to attract to dentistry those most qualified for primary care; (2) moving the basic sciences into the predental curriculum during the initial phase in the development of primary care dentistry; (3) substantially increasing the amount of behavioral science in the dental curriculum; (4) placing curricular emphasis initially on diagnosis and expanding the competence of the primary care dentist in endodontics, periodontics, pedodontics, orthodontics, and prevention; (5) initiating student group practice as the vehicle for patient care; (6) including intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary training as integral components of primary care curricula; (7) extending the curriculum; (8) establishing general practice or primary care residencies either as an intracurricular experience or as a postdoctoral requirement; (9) reorganizing dental school clinics and clinical training to reflect primary care curricular goals; (10) making more rational use of existing auxiliaries, the eventual goal being auxiliaries who perform most of the routine functions; and (11) ultimately integrating dentistry into medicine so that the future primary care practitioner receives both medical and dental training. It is obvious that the extent to which any of these recommendations will be implemented depends on a great deal more than what happens within a dental school. There are many putative countervailing forces which can make implementation difficult; on the other side of the ledger, these same forces might be propitious. As an illustration, the staggering financial constraints imposed on the dental schools can cause us to throw up our hands in despair or can impel us to look carefully at what we are doing, ask why we are doing it, and by building on what is sound and discarding the antiquated and irrelevant, reassemble our curricula to meet public need better than we have been doing...

This paper reviews and analyzes the undergraduate dental radiology curriculum as suggested by the American Academy of Dental Radiology and the Oral Radiology Section of the American Association of Dental Schools. In addition, pertinent findings of the 1976 curriculum study conducted by the American Dental Association are discussed.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate dental hygiene (DH) educational programs' didactic and clinical curriculum in the management of peri-implant diseases and conditions. The specific aims were (1) assess if evidence-based content for peri-implant diseases and conditions are currently included in didactic and clinical DH curriculum and (2) determine if DH education programs are currently preparing students at a level of clinical competency for the assessment and management of peri-implant diseases and conditions.Design: A cross-sectional study of DH faculty member(s) from 331 United States entry-level programs responsible for didactic and clinical curriculum for peri-implant diseases and conditions were surveyed. The survey was disseminated electronically via Qualtricsxm August 2019 for a response rate of 26%.Results: The results showed didactic courses taught DH students the etiology of peri-mucositis and peri-implantitis (98%), clinical characteristics (98%), and risk factors contributing to these implant diseases (96%). Evaluation methods to determine student level of competency in a didactic setting included quizzes/examinations (98%), case-based examinations (63%), and written essays (6%). Eighty-five percent reported DH students are not required in a clinical setting to provide care for patients with peri-implant diseases and conditions.Conclusions: Study results suggest DH education programs may need to revise didactic and clinical curriculum to ensure students graduate at a level of clinical competency for assessing and managing peri-implant conditions and diseases. DH educational programs should consider requiring clinical patient experiences for the assessment and management of peri-mucositis and peri-implantitis to prepare students for their professional role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The state of the dental hygiene educational system in the United States is evolving. The numbers of programs, extent of curricula, and diversity of students, faculty, and practice settings vary significantly across the country. New trends in workforce utilization and delivery models are challenging current educational foundations and mandating an interprofessional approach to both the education and practice of dental hygienists. This article presents an overview of the current state of dental hygiene education to create a baseline for discussion of desired educational models for 2040. The strengths and weaknesses are defined to motivate change. Limitations of the current two-year associate degree are emphasized, along with the need to add expanded content and development of new skills. The developing non-traditional practice settings bring both a challenge to dental hygiene education and a promise of increasing potential in primary care interprofessional settings for the 21st century. This article was written as part of the project "Advancing Dental Education in the 21st Century." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the current teaching of geriatric dentistry in U.S. dental schools and compare the findings to previous reports. Academic deans at all 67 U.S. dental schools were contacted in November 2015 via email, asking them to complete a questionnaire about the teaching of geriatric dentistry or gerodontology at their institution. Questionnaires were received from 56 of the 67 schools (84% response rate). The results showed that geriatric dentistry was taught in all responding schools; for 92.8% of the respondents, the instruction was compulsory. Among the responding schools, 62.5% were teaching it as an independent course, 25% as an organized series of lectures, and 8.9% as occasional lectures in parts of other courses. In addition, 57.1% had some form of compulsory clinical education in geriatric dentistry. Public schools, as opposed to private schools, were marginally associated with an increased interest in expanding geriatric dentistry teaching (p=0.078). No differences were found between any teaching variables and school location. This study found that the form of education in geriatric dentistry in U.S. dental schools differed in many ways, but the teaching of geriatric dentistry had increased among all respondents and had been increasing for over 30 years. Future research is needed to determine the impact of this teaching on services to the geriatric community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides an overview of the emergence of professional education and academic dentistry, in particular into the comprehensive research university. The development of academic dentistry as a vital member of the academic health center at the research university and beyond is described. Summaries are provided of major studies and innovations in dental education models and curricula, ranging from the Gies report in 1926 to the 1995 Institute of Medicine study Dental Education at the Crossroads, the U.S. surgeon general's report on oral health in 2000, the Macy study report in 2008, and the American Dental Education Association Commission on Change and Innovation in Dental Education (ADEA CCI) series of articles published from 2005 to 2009. The article also tracks changes in number and institutional affiliation of U.S. dental schools. This article was written as part of the project "Advancing Dental Education in the 21st Century." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to define the extent to which leadership and leadership skills are taught in dental hygiene degree completion programs by comparing stand-alone leadership courses/hybrid programs with programs that infuse leadership skills throughout the curricula. The study involved a mixed-methods approach using qualitative and quantitative data. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with program directors and faculty members who teach a stand-alone leadership course, a hybrid program, or leadership-infused courses in these programs. A quantitative comparison of course syllabi determined differences in the extent of leadership content and experiences between stand-alone leadership courses and leadership-infused curricula. Of the 53 U.S. dental hygiene programs that offer degree completion programs, 49 met the inclusion criteria, and 19 programs provided course syllabi. Of the program directors and faculty members who teach a stand-alone leadership course or leadership-infused curriculum, 16 participated in the interview portion of the study. The results suggested that competencies related to leadership were not clearly defined or measurable in current teaching. Reported barriers to incorporating a stand-alone leadership course included overcrowded curricula, limited qualified faculty, and lack of resources. The findings of this study provide a synopsis of leadership content and gaps in leadership education for degree completion programs. Suggested changes included defining a need for leadership competencies and providing additional resources to educators such as courses provided by the American Dental Education Association and the American Dental Hygienists' Association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to help inform faculty and curriculum leaders in academic dental institutions about the knowledge, skills, perceptions, and behavior of an institutionally diverse population of dental students with respect to evidence-based practice (EBP). A survey utilizing the validated Knowledge, Attitudes, Access, and Confidence Evaluation instrument developed by Hendricson et al. was conducted in 2012 with fourth-year dental students at seven geographically dispersed U.S. dental schools. The survey addressed elements of EBP knowledge, attitudes toward EBP, behavior in accessing evidence, and perceptions of competence in statistical analysis. A total of 138 students from the seven schools participated. A slight majority of these students correctly responded to the knowledge of critical appraisal questions. While the students demonstrated positive attitudes about EBP, they did not report high levels of confidence in their critical appraisal skills. The findings also showed that the students accessed various sources of evidence with differing frequencies. The most frequently accessed resources were colleagues, the Internet (excluding Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews), and textbooks. The results of this study help to identify areas for improvement in EBP education in order to advance dental students' preparation to become evidence-based practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an introduction to a series of articles on dental education in the U.S. These include an article on the qualitative assessment of critical issues identified by postgraduate general dentistry (PGD) directors that may help direct future research within dental education, an article on the program characteristics of the PGD training programs sponsored by the Armed Services and Veterans Administration, and an article on the changes in the PGD curriculum emphasis.

The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) education in U.S. dental schools. A survey was administered via e-mail to each U.S. dental school's academic dean, and data were col-lected from respondents in a tillable PDF form submitted electronically to the study investigators. The survey asked respondents whether CAM was taught at the institution; if the response was yes, information was requested regarding the CAM therapies included, credentials of the instructor, number of hours taught, reason for teaching CAM, and format in which CAM was taught. Of the sixty dental schools contacted, twenty-two responded to the survey (37 percent response rate). Of these respondents, ten (45.5 percent) reported offering instruction in CAM as part of their predoctoral curricula. Herb/drug interactions were found to be taught with more frequency than any other CAM topic (in six out of the ten institutions). Limitations of the study are discussed, and suggestions for future studies are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental schools are facing substantial financial challenges and a shortage of faculty members. One solution to address these issues has been to hire "shared" faculty members, i.e., faculty members whose primary appointment is at one institution who are hired by another institution to teach a course or part of a course. This is a controversial concept. A survey of academic deans at U.S. and Canadian dental schools was conducted for this study; thirty-nine (54 percent) of the seventy-two academic deans completed the online survey. This survey found that the use of shared faculty members is not rare amongst U.S. and Canadian dental schools and that the opinions of the academic deans about the use of shared faculty members ranged widely--from strong support to strong disapproval. Using shared faculty members has advantages and disadvantages for students, the shared faculty members, and both institutions. Many of the disadvantages could be potentially minimized by stakeholders' working together to develop collaborative arrangements. Networks could be developed in which institutions coordinate hiring of shared faculty members based on what expertise is needed. Financial challenges and shortages of faculty members are unlikely to be resolved in the near future, but use of shared faculty members is one promising approach to begin to meet these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This historical overview of the Journal of Dental Education highlights its founding by and close seventy-five connection with its parent organization, the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). In 1936, the leadership of the American Association of Dental Schools, the predecessor of ADEA, recognized the need for a journal that would keep the new profession of academic dentistry dynamic by providing a means for communicating ideas and new teaching methods. While holding to that mission, the journal has evolved over the years in parallel with ADEA--especially in the twenty-first century with the expansion of both to include allied, dental, and advanced dental education and to address core issues of curriculum change through ADEA's Commission on Change and Innovation in Dental Education (ADEA CCI). Across its history, the journal has actively supported the mission of ADEA by advancing scholarship in dental education. Its past achievements have now set the stage for the journal's next incarnation as a leading global voice in the broader realm of health professions education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the early years of the new millennium, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research of the National Institutes of Health began funding Oral Health Research Education Grants using the R25 mechanism to promote the application of basic and clinical research findings to clinical training and to encourage students to pursue careers in oral health research. This report describes the impact of an R25 grant awarded to the Texas A&M Health Science Center's Baylor College of Dentistry (BCD) on its curriculum and faculty development efforts. At BCD, the R25 grant supports a multipronged initiative that employs clinical research as a vehicle for acquainting both students and faculty with the tools of evidence-based dentistry (EBD). New coursework and experiences in all four years of the curriculum plus a variety of faculty development offerings are being used to achieve this goal. Progress on these fronts is reflected in a nascent EBD culture characterized by increasing participation and buy-in by students and faculty. The production of a new generation of dental graduates equipped with the EBD skill set as well as a growing nucleus of faculty members who can model the importance of evidence-based practice is of paramount importance for the future of dentistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extramural clinical rotations are implemented by dental schools for a combination of clinical and didactic or behavioral goals. In the United States, the Pipeline, Profession, and Practice: Community-Based Dental Education program was launched to increase the number of underrepresented minority students who are recruited and retained in dental education, to expand the dental curriculum in cultural competence, and to incorporate community-based extramural rotations into the dental schools' clinical curriculum. The objective of this study was to conduct an impact analysis regarding the change in number of extramural clinical rotation weeks for Pipeline and non-Pipeline program students over the time period of 2003 to 2007. National data from the American Dental Education Association's senior survey and other secondary sources were used to determine what student, school, and community characteristics are associated with a difference in the student report of the number of required weeks they expect to spend during their last year in dental school providing care at extramural clinic settings. Students reported a mean of 7.2 weeks for Pipeline students and 6.4 weeks for non-Pipeline students in 2003, increasing to 8.2 weeks for Pipeline students and 6.6 weeks for non-Pipeline students (p

This cross-sectional study compares morale among dental students at five western U.S. dental schools, relates morale to various aspects of the school environment, and determines a prioritized list of the most important aspects of dental education from the students' perspective. Survey data were collected from students at the end of their first, second, and third years. Respondents answered several questions associated with student morale and listed the three best aspects and three greatest challenges of their school. Lastly, respondents ranked seven different aspects of dental education in order of importance. Surveys were returned by 742 students (66 percent response). Student morale varied significantly in different educational institutions. Morale tended to be lower among third-year students and higher among first-year students. Poor student-faculty relations was the factor most strongly associated with decreased morale. Similarly, positive atmosphere was the factor most frequently associated with high morale. Faculty and clinic experience were the most frequently cited positive aspects of schools; curriculum and clinic experience were the most commonly cited negative aspects. Students commonly perceived clinical experience to be the most important aspect of their education. As students neared graduation, they perceived business management as more important and lab work as less important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) assists state boards of dentistry in determining the qualifications of dentists for initial licensure. This article explains the purpose and rationale for the policies and procedures that guide the NBDE. These examinations have been used for a number of purposes well beyond the assessment of the knowledge and abilities for entry-level dental practice. The article explores the uses and misuses of the National Boards and the relationship between dental licensure examinations and dental curricula. For National Board examinations to remain current and relevant, they must be consistent with standards and best practices for high-stakes testing, and they must focus on competencies and critical thinking skills essential for future practice. The National Board examinations have the potential to stimulate and support curricular reform through collaborative efforts of educators and practitioners who support the test development and standard-setting processes of the examinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Special needs patients are one of the underserved dental patient groups in the United States. This study investigates whether undergraduate dental education about special needs patients affects general dentists' a) professional behavior, b) practice characteristics, and c) attitudes concerning special needs patients. Data were collected from 208 general dentists (178 male/30 female: average age: 49.85 years) who were members of the Michigan Dental Association. The more the respondents agreed that dental education had prepared them well, the more likely they were to treat various types of special needs patients and to set up their practices so they could treat them and the more they liked treating these patients. In conclusion, most general dentists did not think their undergraduate dental education had prepared them well to treat special needs patients. However, the better they reported to have been educated, the more likely they were to treat special needs patients. Given the access to care problems for many special needs patients, it seems crucial to revise dental curricula and provide more didactic and clinical education concerning the treatment of special needs patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two major afflictions of the oral cavity are dental caries and gingival/periodontal disease. While microorganisms have long been acknowledged as important etiologic factors, the most recent research data demonstrate that both of these pathologic conditions have a strong hereditary base, i.e., even in the presence of putative pathogenic microorganisms, if the host individual is not genetically susceptible, ensuing disease will be mild or even nonexistent. In the face of this evidence for heritability of the two major oral diseases, we evaluated what educational experiences in genetics were provided to students in U.S. dental schools and dental hygiene programs in 2003-04. Our survey of fifty-four dental schools revealed that only one requires a formal genetics course before admission, and only six incorporate a required genetics course within the dental curriculum. Of the 264 dental hygiene programs surveyed, none require a formal genetics course as a prerequisite for admission, and none require a formal genetics course within their curricula. The enormous successes, and future promise, of the Human Genome Project suggest that genetics will soon dominate the future of medicine and dentistry, in prediction of diseases, disease diagnosis, and, eventually, therapy for genetically based disorders. It is therefore incumbent upon dental and dental hygiene education programs to provide genetics education for tomorrow's practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomics research is rapidly increasing our understanding of the genetic basis of normal and abnormal growth, development, and disease. Genetic information and technologies are also being applied to develop new diagnostic and treatment strategies. Many diseases with dental, oral, and craniofacial manifestations have a genetic basis. Effective clinical application of genomics to oral medicine will depend on the education of health care professionals, the general public, and policymakers. Dentists must understand genetics to provide accurate information to patients and be able to discuss benefits and limitations of the biological, clinical, and ethical issues related to genomic-based health care. Genetics education in dental schools will significantly impact the integration of genetics into oral medicine. Fifty-three U.S. dental schools completed a survey in 2001 to assess the status of genetics curricula in dental schools in the United States. Ninety-four percent of schools did not require genetics education for entry to dental school, and a formal genetics course was conducted in only eight of the fifty-three schools (15 percent). The genetics education currently offered to undergraduate dental students is not standardized, and the content varies considerably among schools. These findings suggest more emphasis on genetics education is needed in U.S. dental schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers the authors' insights on the predoctoral curriculum of dental education in the U.S. The authors said that the faculty in the predoctoral education plays an important role in addressing the changes made to the curriculum. They mentioned that dental education had involved a novice-to-expert continuum based on competency education. They viewed that dental curriculum in the future must have the capacity to put greater focus on cognitive aspects of the dental practice.

Historically, education in geriatric dentistry has been limited in both quantity and quality. More recently, a number of educational initiatives have been developed in response to the growing number of older adults and their changing oral health status and dental treatment needs. A survey of U.S. and Canadian dental schools examined curriculum trends and assessed the effectiveness of educational initiatives and the value of AADS/AoA geriatric dental curricular materials. All schools responded. Compared to previous reports, more schools had geriatric didactic course(s), clinical rotations, and faculty with geriatric dental training. Fifty-eight percent of dental schools support geriatric dentistry in their budgets. The primary barriers to program expansion continue to be the lack of trained faculty members, a crowded curriculum, and fiscal concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the milestones achieved by Baylor College of Dentistry (BCD) toward competency-based curriculum in the U.S. It details the events in each milestone including the change to have a competency-based educational (CBE)model, the development of a competency document and the creation of the strategic plan. It highlights the eleven lessons BCD learned such as including the development of a CBE as part of the strategic plan and involving faculty in implementing the curriculum.

The article discusses the curriculum structures and learning experiences in competency-based dental education that help dental students to be competent in their practice in the U.S. It explores the desirable learning events in the novice-to-expert learning continuum and the fundamental characteristics of a competency-based educational (CBE) program. It highlights the implications of CBE for the dental school curriculum and the importance of focusing on the instructional component of CBE.

A competency system in its whole and its parts is described. Such a system can help dental educators rationally and efficiently organize and articulate educational programs, curricula, and courses. Repeated iterations of standard setting, design of experiences, and appraisal can reduce the need for less desirable rework or remediation and rejection of the objects of the experience such as dismissing students. Such an iterative process is one in which there is constant cyclical improvement which can move a dental education organization to develop a shared vision and become a true learning organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on what in dentistry have to do to extend what the current research tell in the U.S. in 2010. It states dental and dental hygiene schools have to integrate into their curricula on practical training in community prevention. It says that dental and dental schools have to think in ways that back trans-departmental activities in tobacco intervention.

The article presents the author's comments on the article concerning the Clinical Research Program (CRTP) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the U.S. He states that as a dental school professor, he finds the article informative and interesting. However, he expresses that he was offended when the authors of the article have blamed dental students and administrators for disinterest on the CRTP program.

Dental personnel are in an excellent position to recognize suspected abuse of dental patients because 65-75 percent of abuse occurs in the head and neck area. While most dental and dental hygiene curricula include the topic of child abuse, it has previously been unknown if other types of abuse, such as intimate partner abuse, elder abuse, and abuse of disabled persons, are addressed. This study was conducted to determine the extent to which dental hygiene programs have incorporated these family violence topics into the curriculum. Specific data on content, teaching methods, faculty, and resources were collected. Reasons for not including family violence in the curricula, attitudes on mandatory continuing education, and support services available for abuse victims were also examined. A fifteen-item survey was sent to all 229 U.S. accredited dental hygiene programs. Surveys were returned from 173 programs for a response rate of 77.5 percent. Child abuse was taught in most programs (N=122, 70.5 percent), while elder abuse (N=95, 54.9 percent), intimate partner abuse (N=81, 46.8 percent), and abuse of individuals with disabilities (N=80, 46.2 percent) were taught in fewer programs. Reasons for not including family violence in the curricula (N=31, 18 percent) varied. The need is critical for increased curriculum attention in U.S. dental hygiene programs to help stem the epidemic of family violence. Raising dental hygienists' awareness of the problem and potentially increasing the number of reports of and referrals for suspected violence may help more victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]