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Summary
Dental manpower shortages persist despite increased training. Utilizing non-dental personnel and operating auxiliaries is crucial for improving oral health coverage and preventive care. Further research on dental team composition is recommended.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Dental Workforce Research
Background:
- Dental manpower shortages remain a significant barrier to improving global oral health.
- Despite an increase in dental schools and dentists, the dentist-to-population ratio has declined over the past two decades.
- Uneven geographical distribution of dental professionals, with a concentration in urban areas, exacerbates access issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the roles of various dental health personnel categories.
- To identify strategies for addressing dental manpower shortages and improving oral health coverage.
- To explore future developments in dental team composition and education.
Main Methods:
- Definition and examination of professional, operating auxiliary, and non-operating auxiliary dental personnel roles.
- Analysis of current trends in dental education, dentist numbers, and population ratios.
- Discussion of the potential for non-dental personnel and operating auxiliaries in preventive and basic care.
Main Results:
- The dentist/population ratio has declined despite an increase in dental professionals.
- Non-dental personnel (e.g., teachers, health educators) can provide essential first aid and preventive measures.
- Advanced skills of dental graduates are often not required for routine procedures, highlighting the need for operating auxiliaries.
Conclusions:
- Manpower remains the central challenge in achieving adequate dental health coverage.
- Greater utilization of operating auxiliaries and potentially larger, complex dental teams is essential for the future.
- Reappraisal of curricula for all dental personnel categories and WHO-guided planning are necessary for improvement.