2 FUTURE OFDENTISTRY

Introduction

CHAPTER

1

What affects the United States and its people affects the dental profession. Dentistry's future ability to

promote the oral health of the nation will depend on its capacity to integrate new, better technologies into

practice, to respond to changing consumer needs, to assure a sufficient supply of well-trained dental educa-

tors and dental students, to maintain a strong research focus and, all the while, to address the needs of those

people who do not have easy access to dental care.

The national visibility for oral health has never been greater. This visibility is seen in recent national and

state legislation, federal reports and the media. The United States Surgeon General gave national and inter-

national visibility to oral health and its relationship to general health and well being in: "Oral Health in

America: A Report of the Surgeon General," published in May 2000.

The report's findings highlight oral health's relationship to general health. It provides an assessment of

the status of oral health in America, how oral health is promoted and what needs to be done. The report

finds, for example, that oral diseases and disorders affect health and well being throughout life. These dis-

eases and disorders are complex, often are not self-limiting, compromise daily functions such as eating,

speaking, swallowing, and school and work performance. The report notes that the mouth mirrors general

health and well being, providing a diagnostic window to other, less visible parts of the body.

Changes in the nation's demographic profile, new technologies, evolving disease patterns, growing gov-

ernment and media influences, marketplace changes, the globalization of health care––all these and other fac-

tors affect dentistry just as they influence other parts of society.

The goal of the 2001 Future of Dentistry report is to help the dental profession cope with inevitable

change, both at home and on the world stage. The findings and recommendations it contains were prepared

by experts who came together in a mutual desire to improve oral health by improving oral health care. The

report addresses all issues that touch the profession––no matter how sensitive they may be––and insists that

all parochial views be set aside.

The report suggests actions in general terms, remanding to dentistry's leaders and organizations the task

of developing and implementing specific activities. No organization can do this alone. Success will require

collaboration, a will to break down barriers of isolation and pooling of resources for a common good. Such

coalitions must cross all boundaries and involve groups both inside and outside the profession.

The trends and issues identified by the expert panels will not come as a surprise to most, and the recom-

mendations will not require radical changes in direction. A roadmap to the future is presented that will ben-

efit the profession and the public it serves. What new turns may appear as the route is traveled cannot be

predicted. Most important is that the journey be undertaken and the direction traveled be determined by a

dental profession which acknowledges its responsibilities and enthusiastically undertakes to reach its goals.