In training dentists to become pediatric dentists, the traditional emphasis has been on developing high levels of clinical expertise and on learning to work effectively with individual patient care.  In order to meet current and future needs of children, pediatric dentists must be trained not only to meet the needs of the individual patient, but also to work effectively towards improving the oral health of all children. Pediatric dentists that are trained for future leadership must possess skills that can make them effective agents of change at the local, regional, and national level. Our rapidly changing health care environment calls for pediatric dentists who realize the benefits of achieving good oral health for all children and who have the leadership skills to be effective in carrying this message outside the walls of the private practice.

To become effective Pediatric Dentists, trainees must:

1) Understand that their professional responsibilities include using their skills to expand the delivery of care to include all children, especially children with special health care needs and children of low-income backgrounds or with limited access to oral health services.

2) Develop skills and experience in the broad health care system that will help bring about improved care for those in need.

3) Realize that service delivery systems must be responsive to the geographic, ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic and gender characteristics of recipients.

In keeping with a strong tradition of educating leaders in the primary care specialty of pediatric dentistry at the University of Iowa, Iowa's graduate training program in Pediatric Dentistry will train a new generation of leaders. Iowa’s Maternal and Child Health Center for Leadership in Pediatric Dentistry Education will produce highly qualified Pediatric Dentists, with Master’s level training in Dental Public Health.

This public health approach towards pediatric dentistry education is necessary in order to produce graduates who can provide leadership in improving the oral health of all children in an increasingly complex health care system. This requires a high level of understanding of issues such as health care administration and financing, oral epidemiology, as well as exposure to public programs, which training in dental public health will provide.

Statement of Need

Healthy People 2010, in its outline of national health promotion and disease prevention objectives, puts forth a vision for the new century “characterized by significant reductions in preventable deaths and disability, enhanced quality of life and greatly reduced disparities in the health status of populations within our society.”  In order to achieve this vision, Healthy People 2010 rightly suggests that it is not the acquisition of new technology or knowledge that is most needed, but the “implementation of what is already known about promoting health and preventing disease that is the central challenge”.  

Indeed, in the field of pediatric dentistry, we currently possess the knowledge and skills to provide excellent preventive and restorative dental care to children whose families have access to our care and who utilize our services.  Despite this, however, there are large numbers of children in this country who suffer needlessly from dental disease, and who do not receive the care they need.  Certain children are more vulnerable to these disparities than others, including low-income children, very young children, minority children, and children with special health care needs. 

Iowa has been a leader nationally in recognizing these problems and in working effectively toward solutions.  In our most recent competitive renewal (1997), we made a bold move claiming that a new type of pediatric dentist was called for - one who realizes the benefits of achieving optimal oral health for all children, and who has the leadership skills to be effective in carrying this message outside the walls of the private practice. To this end we created a combined degree program, accepting two dentists each year into a three-year advanced training program culminating in a certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and a Master’s degree in Dental Public Health. To date, five trainees have successfully completed the combined degree program, and five more are currently enrolled. Iowa’s Center for Leadership Training in Pediatric Dentistry Education proposes a continuation of this innovative strategy and plans to address the needs of the future by: 1) training pediatric dentists who are dually trained in Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health; 2) developing and disseminating curricula, teaching models and other educational resources focused on a public health approach to pediatric dentistry; and 3) providing continuing education, consultation and technical assistance at the local, regional and national level to meet the needs of the MCH community.

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