[Dental education in the past century, its current status and future trends]

Since the second half of the nineteenth century, two ways of dentist-formation co-existed: medically based-, and independent dental education. Medically based dental education,--present until the last decade in four countries of Europe-, favoured the development of oral medicine and surgery. Independent dental education,--specially in Western Europe and USA--realized through prevention a decline in caries and associated dental diseases. According to these changes, treatment needs in future will require low-, and high technology skills, an integration of the dentist into the Primary Health Care Team, as an "Oral Physician". In education a closer relationship between medical and dental subjects, as well as between basic and dental clinical subjects will be necessary. On the basis of E.E.C. decision an agreement on dental curricula in Europe should be attained in the near future.