Six dental schools have closed in the last decade and others are in jeopardy. Facing this uncertainty about the status of dental education and the continued tension between educators and practitioners, leaders in the profession have recognized the need for purpose and direction. This comprehensive volumeâ€"the first to cover the education, research, and patient care missions of dental schoolsâ€"offers specific recommendations on oral health assessment, access to dental care, dental school curricula, financing for education, research priorities, examinations and licensing, workforce planning, and other key areas. Well organized and accessible, the book: Recaps the evolution of dental practice and education. Reviews key indicators of oral health status, outlines oral health goals, and discusses implications for education. Addresses major curriculum concerns. Examines health services that dental schools provide to patients and communities. Looks at faculty and student involvement in research. Explores the relationship of dental education to the university, the dental profession, and society at large. Accreditation, the dental workforce, and other critical policy issues are highlighted as well. Of greatest interest to deans, faculty, administrators, and students at dental schools, as well as to academic health centers and universities, this book also will be informative for health policymakers, dental professionals, and dental researchers.
The United States is rapidly transforming into one of the most racially and ethnically diverse nations in the world. Groups commonly referred to as minorities-including Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, and Alaska Natives-are the fastest growing segments of the population and emerging as the nation's majority. Despite the rapid growth of racial and ethnic minority groups, their representation among the nation's health professionals has grown only modestly in the past 25 years. This alarming disparity has prompted the recent creation of initiatives to increase diversity in health professions. In the Nation's Compelling Interest considers the benefits of greater racial and ethnic diversity, and identifies institutional and policy-level mechanisms to garner broad support among health professions leaders, community members, and other key stakeholders to implement these strategies. Assessing the potential benefits of greater racial and ethnic diversity among health professionals will improve the access to and quality of healthcare for all Americans.
MOST PEOPLE DO NOT LOOK FORWARD to visiting the dentist. Many avoid it as long as possible. Yet those same people will leave the dentist's office relieved, often with big smiles (assuming the Novocain has worn off). What most people do not realize is that the profession of dentistry has come a long way in recent years. New techniques and technologies such as lasers and air abrasion devices have changed the way dentists treat patients. A visit no longer has to be a source of dread. Dentistry involves more than just teeth alone. A dentist provides healthcare for the oral cavity, including soft tissue and bone, as well as the associated head and neck region. A typical dentist visit starts with an examination of the patient's teeth and mouth tissue. Based on what the dentist finds, a diagnosis is made and a treatment plan is proposed. Treatment may include removing tooth decay, filling cavities, repairing damaged teeth, extracting teeth, and/or replacing lost teeth. Most dentists are generalists who provide a wide array of services. On a given day, a general dentist will see people of all ages and backgrounds - sometimes entire families. There is never a dull moment because dentists never know who will be in the examining room, or what they will need. A patient could just be there for a checkup and cleaning. In that case, the dental hygienist on staff will take care of the cleaning, and the dental assistant will take a set of x-rays. The dentist will look at the x-rays in search of problems that need to be addressed right away or point out possible problems that need to be watched. The next patient could be suffering from a damaged tooth, broken during a fall. The dentist will need to determine if and how the tooth can be saved, and provide immediate treatment. There are also dentists who practice in certain specialized areas of dentistry. There are nine specialties recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA). Each requires additional training, but the payoff is a higher than average income for the licensed specialist. The most popular specialties are orthodontics (teeth straightening) and prostho¬dontics (artificial teeth). Dentists are highly educated professionals. It takes four years of undergraduate studies as a pre-dental student, followed by another four years in dental school. In order to get into dental school, the applicant must first take the Dental Acceptance Test (DAT) by their junior year in college. Getting into dental school is competitive so scoring well on the test is important. Many students take practice tests, sometimes as early as high school. Dental school is a rigorous mix of classroom instruction and hands-on clinical work. Upon graduation, dentists need to obtain a license to practice. Specific licensure requirements vary by state. Newly minted dentists can look forward to one of the best careers available today. They are well compensated with a median annual income of $150,000. Even those starting out can expect to earn at least $65,000 in their first year of practice. Those who take the time to become specialists can earn more than $180,000. Dentistry is also a stable career with more opportunities than the available dentists can fill. There is a growing demand for dentists that is not expected to slow down any time soon. Perhaps most important of all is the agreeable work-life balance dentists enjoy. Most dentists work in private practice and can decide for themselves how much they want to work. Dentistry is one of the few professional careers that actually offers the chance to work part time without losing traction. If you have an interest in healthcare, and like to work with your hands as well as your mind, dentistry is worth a look.
The Code of Federal Regulations is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
The Institute of Medicine study Crossing the Quality Chasm (2001) recommended that an interdisciplinary summit be held to further reform of health professions education in order to enhance quality and patient safety. Health Professions Education: A Bridge to Quality is the follow up to that summit, held in June 2002, where 150 participants across disciplines and occupations developed ideas about how to integrate a core set of competencies into health professions education. These core competencies include patient-centered care, interdisciplinary teams, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and informatics. This book recommends a mix of approaches to health education improvement, including those related to oversight processes, the training environment, research, public reporting, and leadership. Educators, administrators, and health professionals can use this book to help achieve an approach to education that better prepares clinicians to meet both the needs of patients and the requirements of a changing health care system.
