An extensive discussion of curriculum reform in dental education looks at the history of dental curriculum since 1926, reviewing major reports and studies and examining systematic attempts to alter the curriculum, both structurally and philosophically. The paper was prepared as background for an Institute of Medicine study of dental education's…

A review of the history and current status of both the predoctoral dental curriculum and general dentistry programs gives insight into the nature and scope of the movement to make postdoctoral dental education a requirement. (MSE)

To develop a curriculum for advanced general dentistry, the University of Kentucky surveyed 40 practicing dentists concerning inclusion of 65 topics. Fifty-nine topics were voted essential or desirable, 40 by a two-thirds majority. The Delphi Technique was found useful for involving potential students in curriculum design, and the resulting…

Discussion of legal issues in dental clinical decision making looks at the nature and elements of applicable law, especially malpractice, locus of responsibility, and standards of care. Greater use of formal decision analysis in clinical dentistry and better research on diagnosis and treatment are recommended, particularly in light of increasing…

An experimental group (n=6) of student dentists received discrimination training and self-evaluation exercises on 4 waxing projects and 4 handpiece projects over 13 hours. An equivalent "conventional" group (n=7) received verbal feedback with models on 7 waxing projects over 13 hours. The experimental group outperformed the conventional…

Strategies that can be used by the dental education profession to develop instructional and information technologies to support curricular reform are proposed. Focus is on strategies that can be successful in a period of scarce institutional resources. Issues discussed include selecting initiatives, technology standards, intellectual property,…

This paper argues that major curriculum revisions are needed in all dental schools, particularly to train dentists as oral physicians who can treat oral health in the context of overall physical health, as in other medical specialties. An Institute of Medicine report, "Dental Education at the Crossroads," is criticized as supporting a…

Acceptance of the philosophy of competency-based education in dentistry would allow clinical dental educators to teach better but will require a changed approach to student evaluation and competency assessment that involves both teacher and learner. The move to competency-based dental education must be a cooperative effort within the profession.…

An evaluation was conducted of the effectiveness of a Scottish training guide for vocational dentistry, which outlined a year's curriculum and was intended to structure the apprentice-like training experience. Methods included semistructured interviews with four developers, interviews with eight trainers and four trainees, and a survey of 63…

This summary of a 1995 forum on the cost and future of dental education proposes that the profession of dental education view the dual concerns of cost containment and curricular innovation as a puzzle to be solved rather than as a paradox to be accepted and thus foster growth, development, and vitality. (MSE)

A comparison of curricula for the two kinds of postdoctoral dental education programs examines clinical curriculum, program design, hospital-based and non-hospital-based programs, patient population, needs for such specialization, program length, and suggested changes and additions. (MSE)

A discussion of competency-based dental curricula describes broad changes in educational thought that heighten interest in competency-based education and offers suggestions: revise the teacher-student relationship; base curriculum development on heightened aspirations for students and dentistry; view dental schools as learning organizations; and…

Discussion of issues in implementation of problem-based curricula in health professions schools lists some obstacles, offers guidelines for planning the implementation process, describes the use of the guidelines in implementation at one medical school, and outlines some essential elements for success, including administrative support, a…

Educators in dentistry and osteopathy discuss efforts within their fields to diversify clinical education. Dental school changes focus on curriculum reform, closer education-care delivery relationship, patient centeredness, comprehensive care experiences, and patient care as a distinct mission of dental education. Efforts in osteopathy emphasize…

The problem of dental student indebtedness is examined, including trends and patterns in cost of dental education, the relationship between tuition and level of indebtedness, and effects of student debt on enrollment and attrition. Strategies for use by students and institutions to reduce student indebtedness are offered, and the role of…