title: Helping Dental Students Make Informed Decisions About Private Practice Employment Options in a Changing Landscape.
abstract: According to the 2014 American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Survey of Dental School Seniors, 45.3% of new graduates planned to enter private practice immediately after graduation; of those, while 65% planned to become an associate dentist in a private practice, 28.3% intended to enter a corporate group practice-the only category that saw an increase over the previous year. Current trends indicate that the number of new graduates choosing to enter some form of private practice without further education will continue to remain high, due in large part to the need to repay educational debt. In light of these trends, the question that must be asked is whether dental schools are optimally preparing students to make informed decisions regarding future employment options in the changing dental practice landscape. This article argues that dental schools should review their curricula to ensure graduates are being prepared for this changing environment and the increased business pressures associated with dental practice. Important considerations in preparing dental students to be successful in the process of selecting a practice model are identified.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Badger is Associate Professor, Chair, and Program Director, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston; Dr. Fryer is Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Howard University College of Dentistry; Dr. Giannini is Associate Professor, Department of Oral Biology and Director of Clinical and Translational Research, Cruzan Center for Dental Research, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry; Dr. Townsend is Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Louisiana State University School of Dentistry; and Dr. Huja is Professor and Division Chief of Orthodontics, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry. gary.badger@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Gary R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Badger
authors.affiliation: Dr. Badger is Associate Professor, Chair, and Program Director, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston; Dr. Fryer is Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Howard University College of Dentistry; Dr. Giannini is Associate Professor, Department of Oral Biology and Director of Clinical and Translational Research, Cruzan Center for Dental Research, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry; Dr. Townsend is Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Louisiana State University School of Dentistry; and Dr. Huja is Professor and Division Chief of Orthodontics, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry.
authors.forename: Cheryl E S
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Fryer
authors.affiliation: Dr. Badger is Associate Professor, Chair, and Program Director, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston; Dr. Fryer is Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Howard University College of Dentistry; Dr. Giannini is Associate Professor, Department of Oral Biology and Director of Clinical and Translational Research, Cruzan Center for Dental Research, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry; Dr. Townsend is Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Louisiana State University School of Dentistry; and Dr. Huja is Professor and Division Chief of Orthodontics, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.affiliation: Dr. Badger is Associate Professor, Chair, and Program Director, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston; Dr. Fryer is Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Howard University College of Dentistry; Dr. Giannini is Associate Professor, Department of Oral Biology and Director of Clinical and Translational Research, Cruzan Center for Dental Research, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry; Dr. Townsend is Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Louisiana State University School of Dentistry; and Dr. Huja is Professor and Division Chief of Orthodontics, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry.
authors.forename: Janice A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Townsend
authors.affiliation: Dr. Badger is Associate Professor, Chair, and Program Director, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston; Dr. Fryer is Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Howard University College of Dentistry; Dr. Giannini is Associate Professor, Department of Oral Biology and Director of Clinical and Translational Research, Cruzan Center for Dental Research, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry; Dr. Townsend is Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Louisiana State University School of Dentistry; and Dr. Huja is Professor and Division Chief of Orthodontics, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry.
authors.forename: Sarandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huja
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003479:Curriculum; D003657:Decision Making; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000191:economics; D004651:Employment; D004990:Ethics, Dental; D006124:Group Practice, Dental; D006801:Humans; D021661:Management Service Organizations; D010318:Partnership Practice, Dental; D011215:Practice Management, Dental; D011331:Private Practice; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D011362:Professional Corporations / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D059039:Standard of Care; D013335:Students, Dental; D014146:Training Support; D014481:United States
keywords: career choice; corporate group practice; dental education; dental group practice; practice management