First year enrollment of Canadians in North American dental schools.

Data is presented relating to the number of students admitted to the first year classes of Canadian dental schools for the period 1974 through 1988 and projections for 1989. Additional data showing the number of non-Canadians in Canadian dental schools and the number of Canadians enrolled in the first year of United States dental schools is included. The study concludes that the number of Canadians in North American dental schools has not decreased but has actually increased over the last five years. Also, since there is a significant number of Canadians studying dentistry in the United States, there will probably be increased pressure to change the policies of the National Dental Examining Board of Canada presuming that these Canadians will return home. Further data is presented which leads to the conclusion that the proportion of admitted students who graduate as dentists has remained fairly constant over the study period.

Dentistry in the USA: a lesson in survival.

A changing and improving environment for the practice of dentistry is occurring in the USA. The details of the events and the lessons to be learned are provided.

Recent changes in the dental curriculum in Japan.

Information on curriculum changes was obtained from 25 of Japan's 29 dental schools. Twelve of the schools reported changes in the last 5 years. There has been some extension of inter-disciplinary teaching, more integration of previously separate courses and improved orientation at the beginning of new courses. Japanese dental education has not been influenced by significant changes in dental disease for the changes noted in other industrialized countries have not yet made an impact in Japan. Among aims for the future are (1) to shift curriculum emphasis from dental caries to periodontal disease, (2) to develop a better understanding of the dental needs of the elderly (3) and to improve the comprehension of relevant general health problems. An extensive internship programme has recently been introduced in Japan.

Thoughts on the future of orthodontic education and practice.

Only by involvement and constructive planning for our specialty can we as a group influence dental education--specifically, orthodontic training--and the conditions for practice we will face in the future. The development of undergraduate orthodontic teaching has been slow. It is argued that it is a necessity, and in our best interest, that we formulate an innovative curricular standard for orthodontic instruction to be included in the strategic planning for the future dental educational program. Regarding advanced training, orthodontics as a specialty branch of dentistry would be at a disadvantage if the number of places in orthodontic specialty programs is significantly reduced. Rather, assuming the accuracy of predictions of future increased demands for orthodontic care under decent economic conditions, it is suggested that if we allow for a slow but steady increase in the number of orthodontic specialists, we are going to create reasonably sound circumstances for future orthodontic specialty practice.