The Buffalo Model: Shifting the Focus of Clinical Licensure Exams in Dentistry to Address Ethical Concerns Regarding Patient Care.

Most jurisdictions grant dental licensure to graduating students following successful completion of a clinical exam. Testing agencies, which are independent of dental schools, nevertheless conduct their exams at school facilities. Patient participation in these exams raises ethical concerns regarding such issues as unlicensed providers' performing irreversible procedures with minimal supervision and graduates' limited accessibility to provide follow-up treatment.

State Dental Boards and Public Protection: Fulfilling the Contract.

Dental boards are agents of the state, sworn to protect the public. They combine the skills of professional training with responsibility to ensure that patients receive safe and effective care. They can play a vital role in ensuring that the profession does not invite more regulation by working to maintain the public's trust.