title: Connecting dental education to other health professions.
abstract: The health care delivery system is poised for substantial change in the coming years. The foremost vector driving this change is economics. However, use of evidence-based principles of practice and a high desire, if not a national mandate, for increased quality in health care delivery are also very important factors. Nestled within this large national health care debate are a set of issues that directly impact dental education and practice. Among them is the potential impact of expanded intraprofessional and interprofessional collaborations among dentists, dental therapists, dental hygienists, and nurse practitioners, among others, in search of better oral and general health care for all Americans. This article explores many of the issues involved in this possible transition with special reference to the impact of the changes on dental education.
authors.affiliation: New York University, 70 Washington Square South, Room 1219, New York, NY 10012, USA. mca1@nyu.edu
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Alfano
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003479:Curriculum; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics; D003727:Dental Auxiliaries / Q000193:education; D003729:Dental Care; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000193:education; D003815:Dentists; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000191:economics; D004517:Education, Professional / Q000191:economics; D004995:Ethics, Professional; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education; D010348:Patient Care Team; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D024382:Professional Role; D011787:Quality of Health Care