Adult oral health is predicted by not only childhood socioeconomic advantage or disadvantage, but also by oral health in childhood. Changes in socioeconomic advantage or disadvantage are associated with differing levels of oral health in adulthood. The life-course approach appears to be a useful paradigm for understanding oral health disparities.

Sixty-seven third-year dental students in Dunedin, New Zealand, participated in a communication skills course, using simulated patients, case-based scenarios, videotaped interviews, and class roleplays. The course introduced active listening techniques, taking a medical history, and emotion-handling skills. This course was adapted from an existing course for medical students run by the Department of Psychological Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine. The results of the student evaluation questionnaire (n = 59) indicated that students rated the course very highly. Retrospective ratings indicated that the students considered communication skills to be significantly more important as a component of their undergraduate training after completion of the course than prior to it. As might be expected, students whose ratings were higher after the course also reported that the course helped them to develop new communication skills and techniques; increased their interest in the subject and their self-confidence; rated the tutor as more effective and the course materials as more helpful; and considered the course to be significantly more stimulating than those students whose ratings of the importance of communication skills remained the same or decreased.Dr. Hannah is Lecturer,

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There is considerable variation in the number of stressors experienced by dentists. Overseas-qualified dentists appear to be under more stress than New Zealand-trained dentists and may need greater professional support. Dentists should be encouraged to make greater use of active coping strategies.

The majority of dentists had good general health, but physical fitness levels were not ideal. The prevalence of hand dermatoses and musculoskeletal problems are high and impact significantly on dentists' daily lives. Interventions such as reducing weight and training in optimal working methods to reduce musculoskeletal problems and injuries (such as eye or needlestick incidents) might improve the health of this workforce but further research is required.