 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
|
| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
John P Brown, BDS PhD, Dept of Community Dentistry, UTHSC San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr MC 7917, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, 210 567 3200, brown@uthscsa.edu, Nancy Hudepohl, PhD, Academic Informatic Services, UTHSCSA, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr MC7895, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, Val Spolsky, DMD MPH, UCLA Dental School, 63-041-CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1688, Raul Garcia, DMD, MMedSc, Department of Health Policy and Health Services Research, Boston University, Goldman School of Dental Medcine, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118-2526, Michelle Henshaw, DMD, MPH, Department of Health Policy and Health Services Research, Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118-2526, and Chris Clark, DDS MPH, Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, 350-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
An initiative for adopting improved, science based caries prevention is in progress in U.S. and Canadian Dental Schools. The project consists of (i) a baseline survey of current teaching and clinical practices in caries prevention & remineralization (97% response, Nov. 2002), (ii) a Leadership Conference (Cincinnati Ohio,Dec. 2002) attended by faculty from 64/66 of these schools at which (a) the epidemiology, health policy, and etiology (biology, mineralology, dietary and other health behaviors) of dental caries were scientifically reviewed; (b) organizational and other barriers to change in clinical teaching programs were systematically addressed through the Senge planning model , (c) by reference to the program changes made in four selected dental schools; and (d) by drafting of individual plans for improving and sustaining the clinical teaching of caries prevention by all conference participants. The current science of cariology, including applying remineralization concepts,has not generally translated into more appropriate clinical practices in the U.S. and Canada. The present initiative is predicated on both this science and the social science of organizational change within dental schools. If clinical teaching of caries prevention, and ultimately dental practice, can change in the U.S. and Canada, clinical practice may be better justified scientifically, economically and ethically, and access to care improved. (supported by Procter & Gamble Oral Care)
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Clinical Prevention Services, Teaching
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.