Perspectives on dental education in the Nordic countries

The object of this review is to discuss the state of dental education and describe current developments at dental schools in the Nordic countries. The main focus is the undergraduate dental education; however, the postgraduate system will also be addressed. The curriculum model for undergraduate dental education in the Nordic countries is based upon the odontological tradition. The influence of biomedicine on dental education is increasing at present due to scientific and medico-technological developments and the altered disease profiles of oral and systemic diseases. These circumstances create new possibilities for dental education, but at the same time they raise some problems. In the long-term, the strong biomedical influence on dental education will be an advantage to future dentists' function and tasks in health care systems in the Nordic countries. In the short term, it may result in an identity crisis for dental schools, students, and our profession, as we experience the evolution from the traditional odontological curriculum model to one significantly influenced by ongoing changes in the biomedical field. Continuing professional education and advanced training in clinical specialties are likely to play important roles in this evolution.