Issues in assurance of quality dental care

Abstract

Eight broad issues in assurance of quality dental care are described, and future trends are predicted. This review of assurance of quality of dental care concerns eight broad issues. First, the relevance of the professional model of care—the claim to professional dominance and to professional trustworthiness—is described. The issues of professional resistance to government initiatives in quality assurance and the possibilities for consumer influence on the quality of care are discussed. The evaluation of quality of care rendered in the private sector as distinct from that in dental care programs is the fourth issue. Another is the problem encountered in devising suitable tools for measuring adequacy of care. Sixth is the question of whether peer review is an adequate method of quality assurance, and seventh is the conflict of interests within the dental profession itself. Finally, the question of what to do about work of a consistently low standard is discussed. Some predictions are made of future trends in the assurance of quality of dental care. Eight broad issues in assurance of quality dental care are described, and future trends are predicted. This review of assurance of quality of dental care concerns eight broad issues. First, the relevance of the professional model of care—the claim to professional dominance and to professional trustworthiness—is described. The issues of professional resistance to government initiatives in quality assurance and the possibilities for consumer influence on the quality of care are discussed. The evaluation of quality of care rendered in the private sector as distinct from that in dental care programs is the fourth issue. Another is the problem encountered in devising suitable tools for measuring adequacy of care. Sixth is the question of whether peer review is an adequate method of quality assurance, and seventh is the conflict of interests within the dental profession itself. Finally, the question of what to do about work of a consistently low standard is discussed. Some predictions are made of future trends in the assurance of quality of dental care.