Undergraduate BDS Programme Director, Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry, The School of Dentistry, University of Liverpool, UK.
BSc Programme Director, The School of Dentistry, University of Liverpool, UK.
Br Dent J. 2024 Aug;237(3):167-170. doi: 10.1038/s41415-024-7673-4. Epub 2024 Aug 9.
The role of the dental therapist has evolved over the course of the past 70 years, both in the UK and across the globe. The General Dental Council's Scope of practice guidance sets out the skills and abilities of each of the professional roles within the dental team, including the dental therapist. Scope of practice of the multidisciplinary team remains poorly understood, to the detriment of teamworking. The dental profession is under pressure and the development of a flexible and appropriately trained skill mix might help us adapt to meet the oral health needs of the population, while leveraging a sustainable workforce. In 2019, the School of Dentistry at the University of Liverpool introduced a novel 'centennial curriculum', designed to fully integrate the interprofessional training requirements of dentists and dental therapists, following application via two distinct routes of entry. Challenges have arisen and addressing these has required a culture of openness and honesty regarding the complexities of shared care and scope of practice.
在过去的 70 年里，无论是在英国还是在全球范围内，牙科治疗师的角色都发生了演变。英国牙科管理局的执业范围指南规定了牙科团队中每个专业角色的技能和能力，包括牙科治疗师。多学科团队的执业范围仍未得到充分理解，这不利于团队合作。牙科行业面临压力，发展灵活且经过适当培训的技能组合可能有助于我们适应满足人群的口腔健康需求，同时利用可持续的劳动力。2019 年，利物浦大学牙科学院推出了一项新颖的“百年课程”，旨在通过两种不同的入学途径，全面整合牙医和牙科治疗师的跨专业培训要求。挑战已经出现，解决这些问题需要对共享护理和执业范围的复杂性持开放和诚实的态度。
