Dental licensure in the European Economic Community: implications for the United States

The formation of the European Economic Community is resulting in historic changes. By the end of 1992, the European Community is expected to be operating as a single market of more than 320 million consumers, the largest in the world. The fundamental assumption underlying the creation of the European Community is that the best method to increase the general prosperity is a free market. The free market included services as well as goods and required the elimination of restrictions on the movement of people, goods and services among the 12 nations. In dentistry, this has already meant the elimination of licensure restriction for dentists in good standing who are citizens of the EEC and trained in approved educational programs within the EEC, but commercial barriers still remain to be eliminated by the end of 1992. The events occurring in Europe indicate that the outcome of the controversy regarding movement of dentists among states in the United States will be determined by larger societal considerations outside of the profession. The free market principle which underlies the changes in Europe is the fundamental economic philosophy in the United States. To the extent that limitation on the movement of health professionals is seen to contribute to higher costs for health care services in the United States, there may be increased efforts to license by credentials. Similarly, factors such as the need of families for greater freedom of movement between states and court challenges based on constitutionally protected rights may determine the outcome of licensure of dentists rather than issues which are of concern within the professional dental community.