FUTURE OFDENTISTRY
personnel working with dentists. As mentioned in
the previous section, the payoff in productivity
would be substantial. This is a cost-effective way to
generate additional dental services, without the
training expense and long-term commitment neces-
sary to increase the number of dentists.
It is worth repeating that regional issues do exist
and may become more pronounced in the future.
However, given these widely varying conditions
among the states, it is apparent that one overall
national policy will not fit the specific needs of var-
ious states. States with a sufficient number of prac-
titioners will require a different policy than those
states in which the number of dentists is declining.
Those latter states face potentially serious issues
that should be addressed with their state-specific
needs and circumstances in mind.
Educational Technology
Technology will have a significant role in the new
system for professional development. Through the
assistance of the electronic medium, dentists will be
able to supplement areas of care through a diagno-
sis of their own learning needs. Once the practi-
tioner's desired knowledge base or skill level is
determined, a customized curriculum could be
developed and accessed. Advanced educational tech-
nologies will also present new opportunities for
learning. Self-customizing educational software will
assess the knowledge level, ability, and maybe even
the learning style of the learner––whether novice or
expert––and customize itself to his or her needs.
This could result in a significant increase in the
effectiveness and efficiency of the learning process.
Simulations, virtual reality, and other innovations
will make new ways of learning available (for exam-
ple, virtual dissection, diagnosis, and treatment).
Professional Development and Continuing
Education
Given the rapid rate at which research and tech-
nology is expanding the scientific and practice
knowledge base, continuous development of cogni-
tive and clinical skills will be a standard expected of
tomorrow's practitioners. The cycles of learning and
practice will shorten.
A new system of professional development direct-
ed by dental schools, licensing boards and dental
industry will be required to keep pace with the
explosion in science and technology. Dental schools
and professional dental associations will continue to
lead the way with more structured, organized sys-
tems involving curriculum, competencies, and out-
comes.
The traditional lecture format will be increasingly
supplanted by self-directed learning with measurable
outcomes. A more highly organized system of curricu-
lum, competencies, and outcomes will be needed to
facilitate learning that keeps pace with new develop-
ments. Ideally, this system would be designed to serve
as a basis for continued competency as well as quality
assurance. It will be essential that the ADA and/or the
Commission on Dental Accreditation develop criteria
and guidelines for learning programs and paths estab-
lished for licensed dentists. Appropriate evaluation of
curricula and outcomes, and measures such as certifica-
tion, would be necessary to ensure validity, content,
quality, and methods.
Professional development will be more custom-ized
and available in multiple formats from a variety of
sources. There will be less interruption of the practice
while the dentist learns new skills. A potential down-
side to technology-based learning might be to further
disengage practitioners who already conduct their prac-
tices in relative isolation. Professional development will
continue to be selected based on the value it adds to the
dental practice and the improvement it has on the
health of the patient.Specialty PracticeNew technology and procedures may drive addi-
tional groups of clinicians to seek recognized spe-
cialty status. The overlap of practice scope between
dental specialties and between dental and medical
specialties will continue.
Although most dental care will continue to be pro-
vided by general dentists, it is plausible that self-
referral to specialists may increase somewhat––as
the typical American grows older, better educated,
wealthier, and shows greater interest in health
issues. This trend will increase the overall demand
for "specialty care" and may result in a need for
more practitioners in some specialties. However, it
seems likely that general dentists will perform more
clinical tasks traditionally associated with specialty
practices.
Assuming continued economic prosperity in the
United States, there will be a need for dentists
trained in preventive care, treating underserved pop-Clinical Dental Practice and Management