Trends in predoctoral education in geriatric dentistry.
Historically, education in geriatric dentistry has been limited in both quantity and quality. More recently, a number of educational initiatives have been developed in response to the growing number of older adults and their changing oral health status and dental treatment needs. A survey of U.S. and Canadian dental schools examined curriculum trends and assessed the effectiveness of educational initiatives and the value of AADS/AoA geriatric dental curricular materials. All schools responded. Compared to previous reports, more schools had geriatric didactic course(s), clinical rotations, and faculty with geriatric dental training. Fifty-eight percent of dental schools support geriatric dentistry in their budgets. The primary barriers to program expansion continue to be the lack of trained faculty members, a crowded curriculum, and fiscal concerns.
Saunders
R H
RH
Eastman Department of Dentistry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY, USA.
Yellowitz
J A
JA
Dolan
T A
TA
Smith
B J
BJ
D000368:Aged; D002017:Budgets; D002170:Canada; D002202:Capital Financing; D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D003479:Curriculum / Q000639:trends; D016321:Dental Care for Aged; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends*; D005179:Faculty, Dental; D005850:Geriatric Dentistry / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education* / Q000639:trends; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D009909:Oral Health; D016730:Program Development / Q000191:economics; D012575:Schools, Dental / Q000191:economics; D014481:United States