Future of Dentistry: How Research Training is Shaping Oral Health
"Discover how investments in research training and career development are crucial for creating innovative treatments and improving patient care in the dental field."
The dental profession stands at a pivotal moment, with an unprecedented opportunity to enhance its role in safeguarding oral health. The convergence of scientific and technological advancements offers avenues for creating novel diagnostics, preventions, treatments, and cures. Dental schools, as key educational hubs, bear the responsibility of cultivating and retaining oral health researchers who can effectively harness these advancements for the benefit of both the profession and the patients it serves.
This article emphasizes the critical integration of research training and scholarship into the core values of dental schools. It examines the historical support provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) for the training and career advancement of dentist-scientists. Furthermore, it presents new data on the outcomes of these investments, comparing them with those in other health professions.
This analysis highlights the urgent need to expand the capacity of well-trained oral health researchers through the strategic re-engineering of training programs. Such strategies are essential for preparing future graduates for collaborative science, clinical trials, translational research, and emerging opportunities. National organizations like the American Dental Association (ADA), the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), and the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) must forge alliances and initiatives to support dental schools and universities in their research mission. Ignoring this call to action would mean disavowing the valuable legacy inherited by the dental profession.
The Critical Role of Research Training for Dentist-Scientists
Dentist-scientists, armed with qualifications such as a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), combined with advanced degrees like a Master of Science (MS), Master of Public Health (MPH), or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between basic science discoveries and clinical applications. In an era marked by unprecedented scientific promise, these professionals are essential for translating new scientific and technological advancements into tangible improvements in patient care.
- Dentist Scientist Award (DSA): Introduced in 1984, formalized the training of dentists for careers as clinical research scientists.
- Strategic Plans: NIDCR's 1997 Strategic Plan emphasized interdisciplinary training and team-based research, leading to comprehensive institutional training programs in 2000.
- T32 Programs: These programs offered greater flexibility to dental schools, supporting combined dual-degree (DDS-PhD) training and fostering diverse portfolios of biomedical research.
Addressing Workforce Challenges and Re-Engineering Training Programs
Despite these efforts, the dental research workforce faces significant challenges. Over 80% of federally funded biomedical research in the U.S. is supported by the NIH, yet dentist-scientists represent the smallest number of NIH-funded physician-scientists. This disparity, coupled with declining federal funding levels, creates a highly competitive environment for grant awards, impacting research positions and resources in academic institutions.
Data indicates alarming trends: applications from dentist-scientists have increased only marginally, while success rates remain relatively low. The pipeline of junior investigators seeking research grants is shrinking, even as senior dental researchers approach retirement. These trends threaten the future of dentist-scientists and may lead to a vanishing presence in dental academia.
To address these challenges, dental schools must re-engineer their research training programs. This involves fostering collaborations with medical schools and academic health science centers, leveraging resources, and creating holistic mentoring programs. It also requires collecting and sharing data on training and career outcomes to increase transparency and drive change. By investing in DDS faculty educators, diversifying the workforce, and expanding research training in emerging areas, the dental community can ensure a strong and dedicated research workforce committed to improving oral, dental, and craniofacial health.