The optimum number of assistants needed in a specified dental office was determined by simulation. (MU)

Dental caries (tooth decay) and periodontal (gum) disease are treated/prevented by procedures utilizing chemical expertise. Procedures and suggestions on how they might be incorporated into the high school chemistry curriculum are described. Specific topics discussed include dental caries, fluoride, diet, tooth decay prevention, silver amalgan,…

The "practice" aspect of the dental profession is reviewed. It is suggested that there is no way to separate education, practice, research, financing, government, science, business, management, motivation, and the public from one another. Retail dentistry, health maintenance organizations, franchising, advertising, and denturism are…

For 20 dental students the relationships of field dependency, scores on the dental admissions test, grades in technique courses, and time and error scores on mirror-tracing tests were studied. Preliminary results indicate that study of the perceptual-cognitive styles of dental students may have utility in counseling and admissions. (Author/SJL)

A study undertaken to explore how dentists use patient data to plan treatment is presented. Three hundred forty-six general dentists used oral and general health findings to determine periodontal treatment for seven prototypic elderly patients. The results indicated that oral hygiene and major medications best discriminated between treatment…

The scope of an AADS-approved course in the management of medical emergencies at the predoctoral level is described. The dentist should have adequate training in detection of serious systemic emergencies and should be well-informed about the techniques for management of these problems both within and outside the dental office. (MLW)

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.…

A follow-up study of academic tenure and collective bargaining in dental schools is reported. There appears to be an increase in tenured positions in dental schools since a 1975 survey. However, since 1975, no other dental school faculties have unionized. The Yeshiva case makes unionism questionable. (MLW)

Described is an inservice training program for part-time faculty involving workshops, weekly meetings, and practice sessions designed to provide training in instructional techniques. Results indicate a need for such programs because part-time faculty outnumber full-time faculty in clinical dentistry programs yet receive little formal training in…

In an effort to market current predoctoral dental courses offered at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center School of Dentistry to the practicing dentist, a 10-hour forensic odontology course was offered to both predoctoral dental students and practicing dentists and their staffs. Positive reactions and cost effectiveness of this pilot…

The University of Washington's program of Dental Education in Care of the Disabled is described. It is designed to train dental and dental hygiene students to respect, understand, and serve handicapped patients with knowledge and skill, while meeting special patient needs and using effective inter- and intraprofessional collaboration. (JMF)

Migrant and refugee communities must be considered as high-risk groups for poor general and oral health. Limited access to basic necessities, risky behavior, and a mismatch between services and health belief systems of migrants and refugees are contributing factors. (SLD)

This article examines why it is difficult for individuals with disabilities to obtain dental services. It discusses inadequate preparation of dentists, cultural norms that create social, attitudinal, economic, and environmental barriers, and limited participation in the Medicaid dental program. The need for changes in dental school curricula is…

Through a strategic plan the University of Southern California School of Dentistry will achieve a new balance between research, postdoctoral education, predoctoral education, and patient care. In achieving this balance, the school will become an integral part of the USC communities. (MLW)

The results of a survey of 44 dental schools corroborate the belief that dental implantology is gaining widespread acceptance in U.S. dental schools. Currently, predoctoral students have limited clinical participation. Most programs have taken the position that clinical techniques are best taught within the existing specialties at a graduate…