The dental curriculum needs to have the flexibility to reflect change in focus in dental care in a timely manner. Contemporary dental care has shifted to emphasize disease prevention and health rather than disease management and involves active participation from increasingly skilled members of the dental team.
Method:
The Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago has responded to this challenge in a number of ways including involvement in a health sciences interprofessional education programme.
Result:
This interprofessional education programme is set in a rural environment, with a high Māori population and involves senior dental students living and working with dietetics, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy and medical students for six week placements.
Conclusion:
The evaluation of this programme and its contribution to a holistic dental curriculum will be discussed.