RESIDENCY TRAINING IN DENTAL PUBLIC-HEALTH - ASSESSMENT OF STATUS, NEEDS, AND ISSUES

The opportunities for public health training have declined over the ye ars while the need for public health skills is likely to increase. Thi s paper reports the results of a project, sponsored by the Health Reso urces and Services Administration, which answers the question of ''how best to invest in the dental public health education system so as to fulfill the profession's responsibilities to protect and improve the o ral health of individuals and society. ''An information base on dental public health education, practice, and specialization was developed f rom an extensive review of the literature and a survey of dentists con cerning employment and practice requirements for public health dentist s. An advisory group considered this information, met to discuss the i ssues involved in dental public health training, and provided advice t o the project staff. Based on the information gathered as part of the project, recommendations were made to: (1) develop a grant program to support advanced education in dental public health; (2) increase the c ompetencies of dentists who are working in public health positions and not eligible for board certification via off-site residencies; (3) de velop model programs in areas of great need, such as general public he alth, management, policy, prevention, environmental health and researc h, that in conjunction with a basic public health core, could satisfy the eligibility requirements of the American Board of Dental Public He alth; (4) develop student loan forgiveness programs for dentists and d ental hygienists working in public health; and (5) develop additional credential recognition programs for dental public health workers.