Geriatric dentistry education and context in a selection of countries in 5 continents. (30th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Marchini, Leonardo; Ettinger, Ronald; Chen, Xi; Kossioni, Anastassia; Tan, Haiping; Tada, Sayaka; Ikebe, Kazunori; Dosumu, Elizabeth Bosede; Oginni, Fadekemi O.; Akeredolu, Patricia Adetokunbo; Butali, Azeez; Donnelly, Leeann; Brondani, Mario; Fritzsch, Bernd; Adeola, Henry A.
• Is Part Of: Special care in dentistry. Volume 38:Number 3(2018)
• Page Start: 123
• Page End: 132
• Publication Date: 2018-03-30
• Subjects: dental education -- geriatric dentistry -- gerodontology -- gerontology education; People with disabilities -- Dental care -- Periodicals; Older people -- Dental care -- Periodicals; Hospital dental service -- Periodicals; Dental Care for Disabled -- Periodicals; Dental Service, Hospital -- Periodicals; Geriatric Dentistry -- Periodicals; 617.60087
• DOI: 10.1111/scd.12281
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0275-1879

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Purpose/aim: To summarize and discuss how geriatric dentistry has been addressed in dental schools of different countries regarding to (1) teaching students at the predoctoral level; (2) advanced training, and (3) research. Method and materials: A convenience sample of faculty members from a selection of high, upper‐middle and lower‐middle income countries were recruited to complete the survey. The survey had 5 open‐ended main topics, and asked about (1) the size of their elderly population, (2) general information about dental education; (3) the number of dental schools teaching geriatric dentistry, and their teaching methods; (4) advanced training in geriatric dentistry; (5) scholarship/research in geriatric dentistry. Results and conclusion: (1) There is great variation in the size of elderly population; (2) duration of training and content of dental education curriculum varies; (3) geriatric dentistry has not been established as a standalone course in dental schools in the majority of the countries, (4) most countries, with the exception of Japan, lack adequate number of dentists trained in geriatric dentistry as well as training programs, and (5) geriatric dentistry‐related research has increased in recent years in scope and content, although the majority of these papers are not in English.