Senior dental students and family dental practitioners were surveyed concerning their choice of pairs of alternative treatments and the technical and patient factors influencing their decisions. Greater agreement in clinical decision-making was found among dentists than among students for all four pairs of alternative services. (MSE)

The status of the current predoctoral dental program and its relationship to graduate dental education is described. Factors that have influenced the dental curriculum and major changes that have occurred are presented. Major issues facing dental education are outlined. A proposal is presented for greater flexibility in dental education.…

The advanced education in general dentistry program at the Eastman Dental Center (Rochester, NY) operates an after-hours clinic simulating private practice. With an optional financial incentive program for students in lieu of a fixed stipend, the clinic's fee income has increased substantially. Advantages and potential abuses are discussed. (MSE)

A survey of 150 general practice dentists examined the relationship between 6 career interests (scientific, artistic, social, enterprising, conventional, technical) and career satisfaction. Results are presented and compared with findings of other studies of dental students and practitioners. Results suggest that satisfied dentists tended to like…

The predoctoral dental curriculum cannot provide the depth of experience and knowledge needed for the increasing representation of geriatric patients in family dental practices. A curriculum model designed to enhance knowledge and refine clinical skills in caring for the elderly is proposed. (MSE)

Issues to be considered in selecting organizations as sites for postdoctoral general dentistry programs are examined, including the advantages and disadvantages of dental schools and hospitals and the necessary faculty qualifications. (MSE)

To change state statutes and regulations concerning postdoctoral dental education as a requirement for licensure, the profession will have to provide ample justification and a change of philosophy regarding the qualification of the entry-level applicant into the profession in relation to protection of the public welfare. (MSE)

A description of the University of Maryland at Baltimore's one-year postdoctoral program in advanced general dentistry focuses on its goals and objectives, curriculum design, patient population, faculty and staff, finances, and program evaluation measures. (MSE)

A survey of 113 graduates of the State University of New York at Stony Brook dental school now in general practice found a high rate of self-reported use of preventive practices (oral hygiene instruction, pit-and-fissure sealants, fluorides, and diet analysis) included in the dental school's curriculum. (MSE)

The results of two years of funding under the Health Professions Educational Assistance Act of 1976, which authorized federal grant support to general practice residency programs, is reported. Grants totalling $7.8 million were received for the purpose of enlarging enrollments, hiring faculty and support staff, and improving facilities.…

Issues to be considered in implementing a required postdoctoral dental education requirement are discussed, including the impact on predoctoral program patient pools, costs, faculty, student career choices, specialty training and practice, national enforcement, and financing. (MSE)

Results of a survey of geriatric dentistry specialists concerning the competencies required of geriatric dentists and the relative importance of those skills in five settings (dental school, general practice residency, prosthodontic specialty programs, geriatric fellowship programs, and continuing education) are reported. (MSE)

A discussion of basic working definitions and an attenuated historical review of graduate dental education, with special emphasis on the evolution of goals and objectives of graduate dental education, is presented. Factors affecting objectives include: type of program and desired end-product, discipline or specialty, and institutional setting.…

It is proposed that required postdoctoral dental education may be a step toward certifying dentists as physicians. (MSE)

Three alternative program funding approaches used in other professions are examined: (1) the reorientation of selected dental schools toward graduate education, (2) emphasizing and marketing the service aspects of the programs, and (3) developing education programs as in-house training for large organizations. (MSE)