Research directions and output in European dental schools

Information pertaining to the research directions and output of dental schools in different countries is of importance in understanding intra- and inter- national differences amongst groups of dental practitioners. The research output of European dental schools has been assessed quantitatively and qualitatively on the basis of published abstracts of research presentations at IADR-meetings during 1993. These data are compared with comparable data for 1990/91. The results indicate that European dental schools are substantially different in terms of research output relative to total population, with the UK at one extreme and Italy at the other. The UK, Denmark, The Netherlands, Sweden and Norway are highly ranked while Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany and France have low rankings, according to the method used. Periodontology, plaque, dental materials, and restorative dentistry would appear to be the principal foci of research. Possible ways of strengthening the coordination and the efficiency and effectiveness of dental research at the European level are discussed. It is suggested that the creation of centres of excellence and research networks are approaches to be considered. An unresolved problem will be the contradictory requirements from educational and research perspectives in relation to the training of dental practitioners.