ADA.org: Future of Dentistry Full Report

FUTURE OFDENTISTRY

Research agendas also emphasize the need for inter-
national collaborative research that develops global
approaches aimed at managing oral diseases and
conditions. International collaboration is important
for many diseases and conditions, such as oral can-
cer, cleft lip/palate and oral manifestations of HIV
infection. The common component of all agendas is
a call for more clinical research.
For those oral diseases that have not or cannot
be prevented, dental research has enabled develop-
ment and refinement of techniques and procedures
that have improved the management of disease.
Dentistry's science base has supported its evolu-
tion and stature as a health profession and has
helped the nation improve its overall health.
Schools of dentistry have evolved and their curricu-
lum has expanded to cover the essential basic and
clinical sciences that comprise the competencies for
the initial practice of dentistry.
Growing understanding of the distinctive oral
health requirements of special needs populations
and low-income populations presents challenges to
the research community. As dentistry continues to
pursue research that enables providers and the pub-
lic to have safe and effective disease prevention and
management, dentistry's active involvement in
health promotion research is required.
Maintaining a strong multi-disciplinary and inter-
national research base is critical to the future evolu-
tion of dentistry as it continues to work with its
partners in the health professions.

Financial Support for Dental Research

Funding for dental research comes from both
public and private sources. The primary public
agency that supports behavioral and biomedical
research is the National Institute of Dental and
Craniofacial Research. Dental research support
also is provided by other agencies in the Department
of Health and Human Services. For example, the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention works
with the state and territorial dental directors and
academic institutions to support disease prevention
and health promotion activities and research. The
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality sup-
ports health services research and evidence-based
reviews, and the Health Services and Resources
Administration and the Indian Health Service pro-
vide support for research focusing on access to care
and services for underserved populations. Other

departments such as the Department of Veterans

Affairs, the Department of Defense and the

Department of Commerce also conduct and support

dental research.

Most publicly funded dental research in the

United States is conducted in dental institutions by

investigators who come from a wide variety of dis-

ciplines. United States investigators located in den-

tal schools also have established collaborations with

investigators throughout the world. Industry (i.e.,

dental product manufacturers, pharmaceutical com-

panies, biotechnology firms and foundations) also

provides funding for dental research and develop-

ment. Much of this support is also for research con-

ducted in dental institutions.

Nevertheless, funding for dental research lags

behind that for other diseases and conditions.

Greater investments in research are required for

dentistry to expand its capacity to promote health,

diagnose and manage individual and community

risk factors, and enhance functional rehabilitation.

Research Workforce

To ensure the nation's research capacity, a con-

certed effort is needed to develop and build the den-

tal research workforce. There is a paucity of new

investigators entering careers in dental research. The

reasons for this situation are complex.

Despite the NIDCR's support, there has been a crit-

ical decrease in the number of researchers. Six percent

of the NIDCR's budget is devoted to extramural train-

ing. Approximately 400 trainees, in 30 centers across

the country, receive their training though institutional

and individual awards. Training is also available for

junior faculty career development. A listing of mecha-

nisms to support research training may be found on

the NIDCR website.

A recent Blue Ribbon Panel on Research Training

and Career Development in oral health research

investigated the dimensions of the problem and pro-

posed several solutions (NIDCR, 2000). The panel

expressed serious concern that the research discov-

eries could be at risk if sufficient numbers of appro-

priately trained scientists do not enter the work-

force. Specifically, the panel found:

u There will continue to be a rise in interdiscipli-

nary studies requiring scientists to acquire a

broader mix of skills and ability to work collabora-

tively;

Dental and Craniofacial Research