Increasingly, dental education is being conducted in a clinically focused way. This involves the education of a wider clinical dental team in hospitals. However, in most cases, clinical education is still largely a formal teaching process. If you are into dental education, here is a useful guide. Click this to choose the best college for a masters degree in dentistry.
The first two years of dental school involve preclinical instruction. A licensed dentist typically supervises students. In addition to the preclinical portion of the curriculum, students also take biology, chemistry, and math courses. These courses are designed to help students understand the biological and physical processes of the human body. However, these basic science concepts need to be sufficiently attuned to the current scientific knowledge and technological advances in dentistry.
Although the federal government has a limited role in dental education, it can incentivize schools to improve their education programs. These incentives can include state and federal funding and reimbursement for dental school tuition. These incentives can also provide a framework for dental schools to improve their curriculum. However, these incentives are enforceable in a different way than accreditation standards are.
Accreditation standards emphasize education in scientific reasoning, problem-solving, and coordinated treatment planning. Most dental schools use the Dental Admission Test (DAT) to admit students. Although the DAT is not a standardized test, it does measure the applicant’s interest in dentistry.
Traditionally, the faculty have acted as the central governing body of a dental school. Faculty have been able to influence the curriculum by making department decisions. However, this tradition has been criticized. One of the main reasons is that faculty need to be trained in scientific and technological advances. In addition, faculty are concerned about the potential negative consequences of change. This can result in a lack of accountability.
The traditional organizational scheme of dental schools has been a four-year program. However, many schools offer five or six-year programs, and some cooperation with other university programs. This allows students to gain advanced education in a particular specialty.
The basic concepts of a dental curriculum date back several decades. However, these concepts have yet to keep up with changes in dental science, pharmacology, and information management tools. There are also concerns about the interrelationships among dental school missions. The committee recommends several changes in how dental schools are staffed and trained. These changes reflect the changing concerns about students, faculty, and financing. These changes reflect the interconnections among the mission of the dental school, the research mission, and regulatory practices.