The new dental biology--threat or opportunity?

A clinician argues that the new biology is a threat or an opportunity depending on the perspective practitioners take. New approaches should be seen as extensions of the services dentists can provide patients rather than restrictions. Different parts of the new biology will become available in the office at different times, and will be implemented by general practitioners or specialists, depending on their character. Important innovations in diagnosis and prevention are emerging currently. New relationships with medicine will be forged rather than dentistry becoming part of medicine. Innovations in dental education and continuing education will accelerate the coming changes.