title: What is the role of specialties in dentistry?
abstract: Dental specialties have an important, positive role in improving education and practice, stimulating research and defining quality expectations in their areas of expertise. However, it is well-known that general dental practitioners accomplish a significant portion of the dental therapy that commonly is classified as being within the scope of the respective recognized specialty areas. In this column, I have made suggestions about methods for improving the interaction between specialists and generalists and a call for better acceptance by each group of the capabilities of the other.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Associates, Provo, Utah 84604, USA.
authors.forename: Gordon J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Christensen
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013039:Specialties, Dental / Q000145:classification / Q000193:education; D014481:United States