Why dental schools should engage with dental support organizations.

Abstract

It is incumbent on dental educators to prepare students for careers in various practice settings and modalities. As the dental practice market continues to evolve away from a predominantly solo private practice model, schools are tasked with training future providers to deliver quality care to diverse patient populations in diverse settings. While no single health delivery model will solve access to care, exposing dental students to various practice environments prepares them to better understand and navigate nontraditional postgraduate practice opportunities. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Dentistry established a community-based clinical education (CBCE) program that has grown to include dental support organizations. By partnering with a more diverse portfolio of practice types, including large corporate entities, the UCLA CBCE program has strengthened its financial accountability while also delivering on the goal of enhancing dental education and improving access to care for vulnerable populations.