Profile of the dentist in the oral healthcare team in countries with developed economies

Abstract

This paper confines itself to the description of the profile of a general dentist while outlining where the boundary between specialist and generalist may lie. The profile must reflect the need to recognize that oral health is part of general health. The epidemiological trends and disease variation of a country should inform the profile of the dentist. A particular tension between the provision of oral healthcare in publicly funded and private services may result in dentists practicing dentistry in different ways. However, the curriculum should equip the practitioner for either scenario. A dentist should work to standards appropriate to the needs of the individual and the population within the country’s legal and ethical framework. He/she should have communication skills appropriate to ascertain the patient’s beliefs and values. A dentist should work within the principles of equity and diversity and have the knowledge and clinical competence for independent general practice, including knowledge of health promotion and prevention. He/she should participate in life‐long learning, which should result in a reflective practitioner whose clinical skills reflect the current evidence base, scientific breakthroughs and needs of their patients. Within the 4–5 years of a dental degree it is not possible for a student to achieve proficiency in all areas of dentistry. He/she needs to have the ability to know their own limitations and to access appropriate specialist advice for their patients while taking responsibility for the oral healthcare they provide. The dentist has the role of leader of the oral health team and, in this capacity; he/she is responsible for diagnosis, treatment planning and the quality control of the oral treatment. The dental student on graduation must therefore understand the principles and techniques which enable the dentist to act in this role. He/she should have the abilities to communicate, delegate and collaborate both within the dental team and with other health professionals, to the benefit of the patient. The profile of a dentist should encompass the points raised but will also be based upon competency lists which are published by a variety of countries and organizations. It is important that these lists are dynamic so that they are able to change in light of new evidence and technologies.

Soft skills and dental education

“…Sanz et al. also reported that the profile of dentists in economically developed countries should include both their soft and hard skills. Soft skill has also been found to be important enough that Smithers et al.…”

Competencies in implant therapy for the dental graduate. Appropriate educational methods

“…This trend underscores the importance of combining both appropriate medical training for dental professionals and increased competence in managing patients with systemic implications, with competence in the newest technological developments in restorative dentistry. Dental implant therapy is the clearest example of such a trend (1).…”

Profiling alumni of a Brazilian public dental school

“…Previous studies aimed at identifying dentists' professional profiles from different perspectives [4,10,11]. Gender-related studies observed that women are more inclined to have a lower weekly workload owing to family commitments [10,11].…”

“…Descriptive analysis showed some universal characteristics of dentists' population elsewhere: predominance of women , high levels of professional involvement ( dentistry as main occupation and high weekly workload ), predominance of workers in private dental service , and a tendency toward specialization and concentration in large cities [4,5,10]. Bravo-Péres [1] found a similar situation in Spain in 2004 and Brown and Lazar [14] described how, in the United States of America, the decline in private practice started at the beginning of the 1990 s. In Brazil, a similar situation occurred at the same time when there was an increased demand and utilization of public dental services.…”

“…Recent studies underlined recommendations for a strategic national oral health care plan for countries with both developed [4] and emerging economies [5]. The recent Brazilian national curriculum guidelines for university dental courses are consistent with public health policies, which emphasize the need for general dental practitioners focused on primary oral health care, with the ability to cooperate across different professional disciplines.…”