Shah N
Center for Dental Education and Research, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Gerodontology. 2005 Jun;22(2):104-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1741-2358.2005.00062.x.
To evaluate the status and need for education in Geriatric Dentistry in India.
The status of dental education in India was studied. India has 185 dental schools producing 12 000 dental graduates every year. At postgraduate level, there are nine recognised specialities in Dentistry, and approximately 58 institutions offer 1160 places for postgraduate degree courses. Dental education is shaped and administered by the Dental Council of India.
So far, Geriatric dentistry has not developed as a separate, independent speciality at postgraduate level. The undergraduate curriculum does not have any significant component of geriatric dentistry. The lack of training results in poor understanding of special needs of older adults in young graduates. Without adequate training and personal experience of growing old, young graduates may not be able to understand the physical, socio-economic and psychological problems of the elderly and the complexities involved in treatment planning for patients with multiple chronic diseases and medication.
It is emphasized that geriatric dentistry should be included in each of the pre-clinical, para-clinical and clinical subjects at the undergraduate level. Graduate students should be encouraged to treat elderly patients in clinics under supervision using a multi-disciplinary approach. Also, postgraduate diploma and degree courses in geriatric dentistry should be developed to address the needs of the vast elderly population in India.
评估印度老年牙科学教育的现状与需求。
对印度牙科教育的现状进行了研究。印度有185所牙科学校，每年培养12000名牙科毕业生。在研究生阶段，牙科有九个公认的专业，约58所机构提供1160个研究生学位课程名额。牙科教育由印度牙科理事会制定和管理。
到目前为止，老年牙科学在研究生阶段尚未发展成为一个独立的专业。本科课程中没有任何重要的老年牙科学内容。缺乏培训导致年轻毕业生对老年人的特殊需求了解不足。由于缺乏足够的培训和对衰老的亲身经历，年轻毕业生可能无法理解老年人的身体、社会经济和心理问题，以及为患有多种慢性病和正在服药的患者制定治疗计划的复杂性。
强调本科阶段的临床前、临床旁及临床各学科均应纳入老年牙科学内容。应鼓励研究生在监督下在诊所采用多学科方法治疗老年患者。此外，应开设老年牙科学研究生文凭和学位课程，以满足印度大量老年人口的需求。
