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Today AEEDC Dubai 2014

science & practice4 AEEDC Dubai 2014 While great progress has been made in the prevention of dental caries, the global incidence and prevalence of oral diseases has not diminished, especially among chil- dren. There are many preventive interventions available, including fluoridation, dental sealants, fluo- ride varnish, regular dental visits and good oral hygiene that can ef- fectively reduce tooth decay and periodontal disease. Current research and practice have continued to underscore the continuinglackoforalhealthmain- tenance among many groups throughout the world. Unfortu- nately, the low priority that is placed on oral health among many individuals from diverse cultures continuestoaffecttheuniversalim- plementationoftheseeffectiveand inexpensive measures negatively. There is increasing evidence to support the association between oral health and systemic or overall health. The association between periodontal disease and a variety of systemic illnesses continues to emerge and underscores the need for an interdisciplinary approach toaddressbothoralhealthandgen- eral medical care. These numbers are amplified in low-income, dis- abled and other underserved groups. In the US, federal and state financial support for oral health services for low-income popula- tions and those with complex med- ical conditions or intellectual dis- abilities continues to erode. Theageingofthedentistpopula- tion, projected retirements and maldistribution of providers cou- pledwithanincreasingpopulation support the projections of signifi- cant provider shortages in the decades to come. Health profes- sionsingeneralandthedentalpro- fession in particular have to re- cruit, educate and promote a new kind of health provider, one that is community minded, service ori- ented with leadership skills and committedtointerprofessionalcol- laborationandutilisinginnovative technology (such as SMS) to meet the compelling societal needs the health system requires. This in- cludes behavioural health, social determinantsofhealthandpopula- tion-based health issues, in addi- tiontothetraditionaldentalissues of the past. So what does this mean for the future of oral health care delivery, the type of systems that should be in place and the type of dentist needed to meet these needs? How will the dental professional work- forcehavetochangetoaddressthe healthandsocietalissuesaffecting health and wellness throughout the world? The selection of dental school candidatesinyearspastfocusedon candidates that were analytical and had a strong science back- ground with good hand skills. The anticipated outcome after gradua- tion from dental school was estab- lishing a solo private practice in thegeographicareaoftheirchoice. Not much attention was paid to community service or volunteer experience, leadership skills and an understanding of basic public healthprinciples.Thecurrentsoci- etalneedsanddemandsarechang- ingtheskillsetsneededforsuccess as a dentist and the practice envi- ronment in which dental gradu- ates will find themselves. Dental school applicants today must have the academic prowess to succeed in the rigorous science courses they will take in dental school, but they must have other critical skills to succeed and flour- ish. Dental students will now learn to a level of competency, not just productivity; they will treat pa- tients with special needs, collabo- rate with other health profession- als in friendly interprofessional settings,andparticipateincommu- nity-basedactivitiestodevelopthe communication and leadership skills to thrive in an interdiscipli- nary work environment. This new culture of health care delivery incorporates prevention and personal responsibility for an individual’s health and well-being. The new dentist will have to be comfortablepractisinginthisenvi- ronment, utilising skills, training and experience reminiscent of the stomatological training of physi- cian-dentists of the past. Dr Nor- manGevitz,ahistorianofthestom- atological movement in American dentistry, notes, “Today’s dentists need to be more broadly trained in general medicine and public health in order to more effectively respond to the oral and other re- latedhealthneedsoftheirpatients and the larger community.” ThisWednesday,DrJackDillenberg will be presenting a paper during the Dental Education Problems and Solutions Session, which is part of the AEEDC Dubai 2014 scientific programme. He is currently Presi- dent of Dillenberg & Friends, a healthservicesconsultingprovider in the US. Changes in the oral health workforce: More prevention,public health and leadership By Dr Jack Dillenberg,USA A new vision of scaling with technology ACTEON Middle East AD

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