Could dental school teaching clinics provide better care than regular private practices?

J Investig Clin Dent. 2019 May;10(2):e12329. doi: 10.1111/jicd.12329.

Abstract

Dental school clinics (DSC) consist of unlicensed dental students delivering care under the supervision of licensed dental professionals. Care delivery is slow due to inexperience of the provider and the series of supervisory checks that are necessary. Cost of care to the patient is less. To date, there has been no evaluation of the benefits of receiving care in a DSC beyond reduced fees. Research has shown the value of teaching hospitals in medicine, and the purpose of this article was to evaluate the total sum of benefits (the value proposition) of receiving dental care in a DSC.

Publication types

  • Editorial

MeSH terms

  • Dental Clinics*
  • Humans
  • Private Practice
  • Schools, Dental*
  • Students, Dental
  • Teaching