The University of Connecticut's new dental school dean Sharon Gordon, DDS, PhD, wants to further the university's focus on brining dental and medical students together.
Currently, the Storrs-based university has dental and medical students together during their first two years of basic sciences curriculum, where they also learn about interprofessional training.
Dr. Gordon said that because healthcare financing is trending toward more holistic views of the patient and outcomes, the next step is recognizing the connection between oral health and overall health.
"Thinking about dentistry and where it is on the spectrum of reimbursement, if we don't embrace that, we're going to be left behind," Dr. Gordon said. "But more importantly, the evidence shows that more comprehensive care of the patient gives better health outcomes overall."
In the future, Dr. Gordon hopes to incorporate nursing students with hygienist students and expand the function of dental assistants.
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Currently, the Storrs-based university has dental and medical students together during their first two years of basic sciences curriculum, where they also learn about interprofessional training.
Dr. Gordon said that because healthcare financing is trending toward more holistic views of the patient and outcomes, the next step is recognizing the connection between oral health and overall health.
"Thinking about dentistry and where it is on the spectrum of reimbursement, if we don't embrace that, we're going to be left behind," Dr. Gordon said. "But more importantly, the evidence shows that more comprehensive care of the patient gives better health outcomes overall."
In the future, Dr. Gordon hopes to incorporate nursing students with hygienist students and expand the function of dental assistants.
More articles on dental:
Court throws out 7 of SmileDirectClub's counts against Alabama dental board
Armed man threatens employees at Missouri dental practice
34% of patients delay, skip out on payments for dental expenses