Financing Dental Education: Public Policy Interests, Issues and Strategic Considerations.

摘要

Recent publications including the first-ever United States Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health and emerging scientific literature underscore the inter-relatedness of oral health and general health, and the critical importance of broad access to basic dental services. Ironically, these findings come amidst an ongoing, decade-long decline in the United States dentist-to-population ratio, growing numbers of dental health profession shortage areas, rising student indebtedness, widespread dental school faculty vacancies and mounting financial pressures in U.S. dental schools. Renewed appreciation of these matters along with growing public concerns about disparities in oral health and access to care have raised questions about the adequacy of the supply and training of dentists. These concerns have spawned interest among State and Federal officials about the public policy aspects of dental education.