Abstract
Dental professionals exist to serve the needs and demands of the public, contributing to health and well-being. They diagnose, treat, and prevent oral disease and promote oral health. Dentists in particular play an important role in helping the population and decision makers to achieve health through good oral health. This article explores the historical development of dentistry as a profession and its subsequent evolution to include the wider dental team. Dentistry's interdependent relationship with general health care, the state, science and technology, patients, and the public are examined, together with the potential for collaborative action. Future public health challenges for dentistry include: addressing local and global inequalities in access to affordable health care, developing an appropriate workforce skill-mix, and ensuring emphasis on prevention and quality care, in support of oral health.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Reference Module in Biomedical Research |
| Publisher | ELSEVIER ACADEMIC PRESS INC |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780128012383 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 15 Dec 2014 |
Keywords
- Access
- Auxiliary
- Dental care professional
- Dental hygienist
- Dental nurse
- Dental public health
- Dental team
- Dental technician
- Dental therapist
- Dentist
- Ethics
- History
- Oral health
- Quality
- Specialization