Technology assessment in dentistry

Technology, in the context of dental health care, is a term that can encompass systems such as water fluoridation, clinical procedures such as sealants, or clinical protocols such as antibiotic coverage of patients with a history of heart surgery. Similarly, the term technology assessment (TA) describes a multidisciplinary, scientific process established to guide policy on the adoption and distribution of health technologies. While this process is already well established in medicine, it is just beginning in dentistry. As such, TA is still evolving in dental care in terms of methods and process. TA is required to guide the content of curriculum and standards of practice in a rapidly changing dental environment. It should precede the adoption or deletion of both technologies and of writing practice guidelines. TA makes it possible to shed inappropriate technologies or the inappropriate application of existing technologies, which may free resources to pay for improvements in the dental care we offer.