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CC BY 4.0 · Eur J Dent 2025; 19(03): 587-594
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1804504
Review Article

Foundations of Interprofessional Education in Dental Schools: A Narrative Review

Ahmed Yaseen Alqutaibi 
1   Substitutive Dental Sciences Department (Prosthodontics), College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia
2   Prosthodontics Department, College of Dentistry, Ibb University, Ibb, Yemen
,
Mohamed M. Rahhal 
3   Department of Prosthodontics, Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health (MOSDOH), A.T. Still University, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States
4   Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
,
Rawda Awad 
5   Restorative Dentistry, Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health (MOSDOH), A.T. Still University, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States
,
Omer Sheriff Sultan
6   Restorative Dentistry, Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health (MOSDOH), A.T. Still University, Kirksville, Missouri, United States
,
Mohamed A. M. Iesa
7   Department of Physiology, Al Qunfudah Medical College, Umm Al Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
,
Muhammad Sohail Zafar 
8   Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Dentistry, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
9   Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman, University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
10   School of Dentistry, Jordan University, Amman, Jordan
,
Mohamed Jaber 
8   Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Dentistry, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
9   Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman, University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
› Author Affiliations
Funding The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by Ajman University, UAE, for covering the article's APC.
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Abstract

Interprofessional education (IPE) and interprofessional collaborative practice have gained significant recognition for their ability to enhance health care education and improve patient outcomes, particularly in dentistry. Given the close connection between oral and general health, incorporating IPE into dental curricula has become essential in preparing practitioners for collaborative patient-centered care. This review focuses on the foundations of IPE in dental schools, focusing on its role in preparing students for collaborative health care. It discusses the evolution and current trends of IPE, examples of existing programs, and the importance of interprofessional teamwork for dental students. Key interprofessional competencies, such as communication, ethics, and teamwork, are highlighted, along with methods for assessing these skills, emphasizing the value of IPE in developing well-rounded dental professionals.

Keywords

dental education - interprofessional collaboration - educational environment - IPE curriculum - learning theory


Publication History

Article published online:
12 March 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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