Expected Changes in Regulation and Licensure: Influence on Future Education of Dentists

Abstract

This article is based on the following assumptions about dental care in the United States: there is an access to oral health care problem; the number of individuals with dental insurance is increasing; the demographics of the dental profession does not mirror the overall demographics of the U.S. population; and emerging oral health workforce models may help improve access to care. Based on these assumptions, this article explores related licensure and regulatory factors that will influence the education and practice of dentists in the future. The issues discussed are licensure of emerging oral health practitioners, mobility of the dental health care workforce, corporate ownership of dental practices, ethical issues related to use of human subjects in dental licensure examinations, interprofessional education and practice, and health care reform. The licensure and regulatory bodies discussed are the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), state legislatures and boards of dentistry, federal legislative activities, judicial activities, and the Federal Trade Commission. Recommendations based on this discussion are presented. This article was written as part of the project "Advancing Dental Education in the 21 Century."

Should the U.S. Adopt a National Dental Clinical Licensure Examination? Two Viewpoints

“…23 Between 2011 and 2016, about one in 18 dentists moved to a diferent state, with about one in eight dentists aged 40 years and under moving across state lines. 23 Between 2011 and 2016, about one in 18 dentists moved to a diferent state, with about one in eight dentists aged 40 years and under moving across state lines.…”

“…24 ASDA has cited portability as one of the biggest concerns facing new dentists and their families as they consider practice or postgraduate training options. 23,25 Further, increased educational debt has forced students to put a higher priority on obtaining licensure to begin meeting their repayment obligations. Competition for and diversiication of specialty training programs have put added pressure on students to gain licensure as a prerequisite to accepting a position.…”

“…[7][8][9][10][11][12]23 Having multiple states accept a regional licensing exam enhances licensure reciprocity. [7][8][9][10][11][12]23 Having multiple states accept a regional licensing exam enhances licensure reciprocity.…”

“…1,4,23 The FTC can continue to stimulate policy and regulation that will afect the practice of dentistry and have a potential impact on dental education, such as continued monitoring of state dental practice acts that restrict competition and/or do not continually strive to protect the health of the public. The discussion centered around how much certiication and licensure are really needed to protect the public, with the FTC devoting considerable energy to address this concern.…”

Academic Dental Librarianship in Canada: Taking Stock, Planning the Future

“…As both the Canadian and U.S. Commissions on Dental Accreditation prepare the next updates to their requirements [57], we expect to see an increased focus on integration of evidence-based dentistry into the dental curriculum, and believe this will be a major driver for more complex and advanced instruction from dental librarians. In our view, the aspects of EBD that are particularly suited to librarian involvement are critical appraisal of studies, and the fostering of a deeper understanding of research methodologies such as systematic reviews.…”