Response to the dental scientist model
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2026

Shrinkage of Dental Composite in Simulated Cavity Measured with Digital Image Correlation
Published on: July 21, 2014
1Clinical Investigations and Patient Care Branch, National Institute of Dental Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Abstract:
In general, considerable strength and much realism exist in the model as presented by Dr. McHugh. Progress in biological science is central to any scheme anticipating change in medicine, including dental and oral medicine. In my view, there are two weaknesses in his presentation: 1) a perhaps semantic difference with me over whether dentists should be trained as scientists or as individuals who can use science (fact and process); and 2) a substantive difference as to how to reinforce didactic, basic biomedical science in clinical training.

