FUTURE OFDENTISTRYand dental societies, especially those in less-developed
countries, do not have well-stocked libraries and
information retrieval services available.
FUTURE CHANGES IN DENTAL AND
CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH
The trend towards creating a high-level focus for
international collaborative oral health research within
the United States demonstrates a willingness to work
with global partners to achieve common humanitarian
and scientific objectives. The trends in most areas of
dental research indicate a need to draw expertise from
wherever in the world that expertise exists.
Networking of scientists in the United States with col-
leagues around the world will be the normative model
for research in the 21st century. The following early
trends hold promise for sustaining and increasing inter-
national collaboration in research:
uExpanded investment in biomedical, behavioral,
and health services research addressing global health
problems, particularly those infectious disease prob-
lems where there is a growing burden of dental, oral,
and craniofacial diseases/disorders.
uExpanded research support to finance interna-
tional teams of scientists as they seek to address
these global research questions. Cost-sharing by
international funders in the public and private sector
is essential for maintaining these networks, and
United States leadership is needed to spearhead the
science as these teams develop and pursue such
questions of global significance.
u Advocacy for the development of sustainable
scientific and oral health care infrastructures in
developing countries. Unless these are in place, such
lack of infrastructure will thwart the progress of
knowledge developments applicable to the United
States as well as to other countries.
uProviding training for researchers from develop-
ing countries in United States dental and other related
graduate schools to strengthen the links among
researchers from other countries and to enhance the
likelihood of future collaborative research initiatives.
A side benefit is that United States dental products and
technologies might gain entry into overseas markets,
thus serving both to enhance global health and to
advance United States economic markets.
FUTURE CHANGES IN THE INTERNET AND
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONThe Internet is an important mechanism that will
influence how we communicate and share knowl-
edge in the future. Although the costs of electronic
communication will continue to be a major factor,
especially for poorer nations, the Internet will con-
tinue to expand rapidly and will be utilized exten-
sively throughout the world. The following are
advantages of international communication:uDentists will be able to easily access publications
internationally. This will enable all dentists to
share in learning, even from parts of the world
where they currently do not have access to infor-
mation.uWorldwide teleconferencing will facilitate prob-
lem solving and knowledge-sharing.u Satellite transmission of information to small
hand-held computers will mean almost instanta-
neous communication, complete with pictures.
This means that in many countries, dentists will
be able to share information, and participate in con-
tinuing education, without leaving home.u Real-time, simultaneous translation will overcome
any language barriers, and a true communityof pro-
fessionals will exist.uContinuing education will become worldwide in
scope. Clinical procedures performed will beviewed in
real time via the Internet or saved for viewing at a
more convenient time.uWithin the context of dental education, commu-
nication will take on many new changes on a
worldwide basis. Many clinical procedures are
being taught via computer simulation. The oppor-
tunities for education and communication through
technology are unlimited.FUTURE CHANGES IN ORAL HEALTH
PROMOTIONThere are overall national gains in oral health in
the United States. Nevertheless, some population
groups have more disease which goes undetected
and untreated than the rest of the population. FromGlobal Oral Health