Journal of dental education
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The 1999 Report of the AADS President's Task Force on the Future of Dental School Faculty (1) drew attention to the situation dental schools are experiencing in attracting and retaining faculty. A year 2000 ADEA Association Report on faculty shortages indicated the number of vacant budgeted positions was approaching 400 (2). The year 2000 - 2001 ADEA survey of vacant budgeted positions indicates a further four percent increase in vacant budgeted positions. ⋯ Almost three percent of identified faculty separations were from deaths. It is anticipated that, with a further "graying" of an already aged dental school faculty, retirements will further exacerbate the problem of faculty vacancies and the ability to attract and retain new faculty. There is needed urgency in implementing strategies and recommendations provided in the 1999 President's Report and the 2000 Association Report.
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This project was undertaken from July 1999 to August 2000 to identify the status of extramural programming (that is, a program that has undergraduate dental students providing any aspect of dental care to individuals in settings outside the main clinical facility of the school) in North American dental schools. A survey instrument was mailed to all United States and Canadian dental schools concerning student involvement in extramural programming. The response rate was 79.7 percent. ⋯ Of total student time in extramural programming, 43.3 percent was spent delivering basic clinical services, 24.4 percent comprehensive clinical services, 11.8 percent health education, 11.8 percent preventive dentistry, and 8.7 percent community activities. From the data collected it is apparent that the majority of North American dental schools are providing a variety of extramural experiences for their dental students. It was found that student involvement in extramural programming increases gradually from the freshman to the senior year.