Dental Health Personnel Planning: a Review of the Literature

Abstract

Dental personnel planning is important in formulating policy in dental education, dental public health programs, and dental care delivery systems. The purpose of this literature review is to illustrate the use of dentist-to-population ratios, need-based models, and demand-based models in the determination of appropriate supply of dental personnel. A historical perspective is provided that demonstrates how political manipulation and subjectivity have characterized the use of these models by organized dentistry, the federal government, and others. The lack of pertinent data and the inability to predict economic, social, political, and epidemiologic trends weaken the applicability of each model in determining future personnel levels. Considering the long-term consequences of the use of each model in personnel planning, caution is urged in using any of the presently available models.

Dental manpower planning in India: current scenario and future projections for the year 2020

“…It is at best a general overview statistic. At worst, it is a malleable and ambiguous statistic capable of manipulating policy makers based on the values of whichever interest group is conducting the research. This is a highly misused statistic by Indian policy makers to grant permissions for opening new dental colleges.…”

Comparing human resource planning models in dentistry: A case study using Canadian Armed Forces dental clinics

“…All studies emphasized the importance of patient‐specific treatment information in assessing human resource planning. However, one of the principle drawbacks to employing the needs‐based or demands‐based model is that prevalence data are used to predict future disease, and thus future treatment needs or demands, yet disease incidence is not constant over time. Although it is understood that providers may induce demand for dental care through treatment planning and that sociodemographic characteristics can influence patients’ utilization patterns, the CAF has standards for the provision of dental care, so treatment planning is less subjective to the treatment philosophies of individual providers.…”

“…Human resource planning in dentistry is the process of determining the appropriate number and allocation of dental personnel able to deliver oral healthcare services to achieve an established goal or desired outcome . From a payer perspective, efficient allocation of resources assists in minimizing unnecessary costs.…”

“…The model reflects the ratio of full‐time equivalent dentists to the population served. The main advantages of this model are that it is easy to understand and it involves neither complex data nor complicated analysis . However, it is often criticized for its subjective and arbitrary derivation of the standard ratio and its lack of consideration of need .…”

“…The main advantages of this model are that it is easy to understand and it involves neither complex data nor complicated analysis . However, it is often criticized for its subjective and arbitrary derivation of the standard ratio and its lack of consideration of need . As this model does not consider population‐specific dental treatment needs, such variations may result in a greater or lesser demand for dentists.…”