Orthodontic therapists--the current situation.
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The promise of the U.K. being allowed to use auxiliary help in orthodontics is slowly gaining momentum. At long last, key factors are under discussion, such as permitted duties, length of training, etc. This article describes the present situation and highlights the disappointing rate of progress (+info)
A survey of the delegation of orthodontic tasks and the training of chairside support staff in 22 European countries.
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This paper reports on a survey which was undertaken to investigate the delegation of orthodontic tasks and the training of chairside support staff in Europe. Two questionnaires were posted to all members of the EURO-QUAL BIOMED II project together with an explanatory letter. The first dealt with the delegation of nine clinical tasks during orthodontic treatment. The second with the types of chairside assistant employed in each country and the training that they are given. Completed questionnaires, which were subsequently validated, were returned by orthodontists from 22 countries. They indicated that there was no delegation of clinical tasks in six of the 22 countries and delegation of all nine tasks in five countries. The most commonly delegated tasks were taking radiographs (in 14 of the 22 countries) and taking impressions (in 13 of the 22 countries). The least commonly delegated tasks were cementing bands (in five of the 22 countries) and trying on bands (in six of the 22 countries). Seven of the 22 countries provided chairside assistants with training in some clinical orthodontic tasks. Eighteen of the 22 countries provided general training for chairside assistants and offered a qualification for chairside assistants. Four of these 18 countries reported that they only employed qualified chairside assistants. Of the four countries which reported that they did not provide a qualification for chairside assistants, two indicated that they employed chairside assistants with no formal training and two that they did not employ chairside assistants. It was concluded that there were wide variations within Europe as far as the training and employment of chairside assistants, with or without formal qualifications, and in the delegation of clinical orthodontic tasks to auxiliaries was concerned. (+info)
Suggested guidelines for the provision and assessment of orthodontic education in Europe. A report from the Professional Development Group of the EURO-QUAL BIOMED II Project.
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The suggested guidelines for the provision and assessment of Orthodontic education in Europe, which are introduced, set out, and discussed in this paper, resulted from the work of the Professional Development Group (PDG) of the EURO-QUAL BIOMED II project. They were published in the final report of the project, after comments had been received from a range of national and European bodies and societies, including the British and the European Orthodontic Societies, Royal Colleges, and the General Dental Council. (+info)
Side-effects of dental materials reported in Scandinavian countries.
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Dental treatment usually involves a wide range of materials which continue to grow in number and complexity. During the last decade there has been an increasing demand for safety evaluation and control of dental materials. Since it is the members of the dental staff who handle the materials in their most reactive states they constitute the main risk category. Bearing this in mind reported side-effects in both patients and dental personnel in Scandinavia are presented. Data from the only two existing national registers for side-effects of dental materials, i.e. those in Norway and Sweden, are thus elucidated. Furthermore, recent mainly Scandinavian publications dealing with the side-effects of dental materials are presented. It can be concluded that a national register on the side-effects of dental materials, apart from revealing information regarding their frequency and nature, may detect changes in the profiles of adverse reactions and also serve as a tool for the post-marketing surveillance of dental materials. (+info)
Training, re-training and getting back to practice.
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Career breaks occur for many reasons and may well be the pattern for the future. In a recent survey, reasons given for career breaks included personal and family sickness, childrearing, travelling and study. Childrearing was the most common reason for women to have a break and personal sickness for men. Although these breaks may be short, they may be multiple and therefore have enormous implications for workforce planning. (+info)
The question of cost: reimbursement and remuneration.
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Dentists and the dental team have been encouraged to become an important part of the effort to curb tobacco use. Many health insurance policies, however, do not cover tobacco cessation programs, especially by dentists. The generosity of insurance for tobacco cessation has been found to influence the use of these programs. The dental profession can help by: 1) training more dental students, dental hygienists, and dental practitioners to provide tobacco cessation counseling; 2) increasing the number of practices routinely monitoring tobacco use and providing tobacco cessation programs; 3) increasing the utilization of the available procedure codes for tobacco cessation, whether it is a covered service or not; and 4) stimulating demand for more tobacco cessation coverage by employees. (+info)
The role of team dentistry in improving access to dental care in the UK.
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The role of professionals complementary to dentistry (PCDs) in improving access to NHS primary dental care is discussed. The pattern of under-supply of dentists in poor socio-economic areas is highlighted and identified, in drawing a parallel to the workings of primary medical teams, as a possible area where PCDs could be used. (+info)
Trends in allied dental education: an analysis of the past and a look to the future.
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Allied dental healthcare providers have been an integral part of the dental team since the turn of the 19th century. Like dental education, allied dental education's history includes a transition from apprenticeships and proprietary school settings to dental schools and community and technical colleges. There are currently 258 dental assisting programs, 255 dental hygiene programs, and 28 dental laboratory technology programs according to the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation. First-year enrollment increased 9.5 percent in dental hygiene education from 1994/95 to 1998/99, while enrollment in dental assisting programs declined 7 percent and declined 31 percent in dental laboratory technology programs during the same period. Program capacity exceeds enrollment in all three areas of allied dental education. Challenges facing allied dental education include addressing the dental practicing community's perception of a shortage of dental assistants and dental hygienists and increasing pressure for career tracks that do not require education in ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation accredited programs. The allied dental workforce may also be called upon for innovative approaches to improve access to oral health care and reduce oral health care disparities. In addition, allied dental education programs may face challenges in recruiting faculty with the desired academic credentials. ADEA is currently pursuing initiatives in these and other areas to address the current and emerging needs of allied dental education. (+info)