A competency matrix for global oral health.

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Oral Health Education
• Health Workforce Development

Background:

• The Lancet Commission emphasizes 21st-century health education needs.
• Oral diseases pose a significant global health burden.
• Existing health professional education often lacks global oral health focus.

Purpose of the Study:

• To recommend core global oral health competencies for various professional and public groups.
• To integrate oral health into broader health professional education.
• To address the global burden of oral diseases.

Main Methods:

• Expert consensus development of global oral health competencies.
• Defined four target groups: dental professionals, allied oral health workers, other health professionals, and public non-health professionals.
• Presented competencies in a matrix format for each group.

Main Results:

• Identified key global oral health competencies for each of the four target groups.
• Highlighted the crucial roles of diverse health professions and societal groups in oral disease management.
• Demonstrated the need for interprofessional collaboration in tackling oral diseases.

Conclusions:

• A broader range of professionals and societal groups are essential for global oral disease prevention and control.
• Integrated workforce models are necessary for a comprehensive approach to oral health, linked with non-communicable diseases.
• Further research is needed to validate and refine the proposed global oral health competencies.