The implications of changing patterns in oral health for dental education

Reports from many countries indicate that there has recently been a significant reduction in the prevalence of dental caries. Survey questionnaires were sent to 131 dental schools in 58 countries to determine the perceptions of dental educators to changing oral disease patterns. The educators were asked to indicate changes which had occurred in their respective curricula relative to the disease trends. They were asked to speculate on future curricular changes. Thirty-six schools in 21 countries replied. Most respondents indicated a decrease in the prevalence of dental caries, but little perception of changes in other oral diseases. Whereas, many adjustments have been made in dental curricula, there is little to indicate that the changes are related to variations in oral disease patterns. A new dilemma faces dental education for there is a need to broaden the scope of skills to be attained by the dental student to support a wide range of dental practice, while maintaining skills in restorative dentistry. More intensive continuous epidemiological studies of oral diseases need to be conducted. Dental school administrators need to be informed about oral disease trends and should adjust their curricula accordingly.