Residency training in dental public health: assessment of status, needs, and issues.
The opportunities for public health training have declined over the years while the need for public health skills is likely to increase. This paper reports the results of a project, sponsored by the Health Resources and Services Administration, which answers the question of "how best to invest in the dental public health education system so as to fulfill the profession's responsibilities to protect and improve the oral health of individuals and society." An information base on dental public health education, practice, and specialization was developed from an extensive review of the literature and a survey of dentists concerning employment and practice requirements for public health dentists. An advisory group considered this information, met to discuss the issues involved in dental public health training, and provided advice to the project staff. Based on the information gathered as part of the project, recommendations were made to: (1) develop a grant program to support advanced education in dental public health; (2) increase the competencies of dentists who are working in public health positions and not eligible for board certification via off-site residencies; (3) develop model programs in areas of great need, such as general public health, management, policy, prevention, environmental health and research, that in conjunction with a basic public health core, could satisfy the eligibility requirements of the American Board of Dental Public Health; (4) develop student loan forgiveness programs for dentists and dental hygienists working in public health; and (5) develop additional credential recognition programs for dental public health workers.
Wotman
S
S
School of Dentistry, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. sxw2@po.cwru.edu
Pyle
M
M
Duffy
R
R
D002568:Certification; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003406:Credentialing; D019992:Databases as Topic; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education; D018865:Dental Research / Q000193:education; D004499:Education, Dental, Graduate / Q000191:economics; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019550:Environmental Medicine / Q000193:education; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006267:Health Education, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006291:Health Policy; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009909:Oral Health; D011313:Preventive Dentistry / Q000193:education; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016730:Program Development; D011636:Public Health Dentistry / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013039:Specialties, Dental / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014146:Training Support; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014488:United States Health Resources and Services Administration