Dental Education in Europe: The Challenges of Variety.

Dental education varies considerably across Europe, with differing traditions of stomatology (dentistry as a specialty of medicine) and odontology (single autonomous discipline). Dental curricula within the European Union (EU) are governed by European law expressed in directives that are binding on all EU member states. The Dental Directives (78/686/EC) base the curriculum on the odontological model, but compliance by individual schools is often poor. The differences within the EU will likely intensify with the accession of Eastern/Central European countries where the stomatological tradition is strong. Moreover, current proposals within the EU will reduce even the limited existing effectiveness of the Dental Directives. The DentEd Thematic Network Project, which aims to promote convergence of European curricula through voluntary self-assessment and outside peer review, has involved about 25 percent of European schools. Its effectiveness in inducing changes in individual schools is unknown. It is not an accreditation system, and there is no intention to establish a European-wide common curriculum. Dentists' vocational training, here defined as "the organised education of the newly qualified dentist in supervised practice," is present in various models in many European countries, but is compulsory in only a few. Continuing dental education (CDE) is encouraged in most countries, but CDE-dependent licensure is required in only two. Dr. Scott is President of the Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE), Editor of the European Journal of Dental Education, immediate past chair of the Council of Deans of Dental Schools in the United Kingdom, and former Dean of the Liverpool University Dental Hospital and School. Direct correspondence and requests for reprints to him at the Liverpool University Dental Hospital and School, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5PS, United Kingdom; 44-151-706-5218 phone; 44-151- 706-5845 fax; j.scott@liv.ac.uk.