A study of the impact of Project ACORDE on dental education in the United States.

As part of an evaluation of Project ACCORDE a questionnaire survey was conducted of all U.S. dental school deans, heads, and selected faculty of operative dentistry departments, and selected directors and key faculty of dental hygiene and assisting programs. The survey was supplemented by on-site visits to four dental school operative dentistry departments and five dental auxiliary training programs where the Restoration of Cavity Preparations with Amalgam and Tooth-Colored Materials package was used. The visits included observation of instruction and interviews with faculty and students. This paper summarizes the results including: the extent to which the materials have been adopted, user and nonuser reactions, perceived costs and benefits, and implications for the future of Project ACORDE.