title: The effect of changes in caries prevalence on dental education.
abstract: While rising levels of dental caries were primarily responsible for the growth in dental schools in developed countries, the recent decline in caries prevalence has not resulted in a major decline in dental education. Indeed, the reduction in caries prevalence has had very little influence upon a group of major changes that arguably should have had a marked effect upon dental education in recent years, but which have failed so to do. These include a quantum leap in applying the scientific basis of caries management, focused down to the teaching of minimally invasive restorative care within a context of risk assessment and maximum non-invasive care where appropriate. A possible way forward in accelerating the necessary changes in dental practice would be for only a proportion of dental undergraduates in the future to be taught practical restorative procedures, leaving the remainder to concentrate on diagnostic and non-invasive care without the distraction of possible restorative treatment.
authors: Department of Oral and Dental Science, University of Bristol Dental Hospital and School, UK.
authors: R J
authors: RJ
authors: Elderton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003479:Curriculum; D003729:Dental Care; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000379:methods; D003813:Dentistry / Q000639:trends; D003814:Dentistry, Operative / Q000193:education / Q000639:trends; D003945:Diagnosis, Oral / Q000193:education; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000639:trends; D005544:Forecasting; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D011313:Preventive Dentistry / Q000193:education / Q000639:trends; D012575:Schools, Dental; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology