Curriculum Guidelines for Social and Behavioral Sciences in Predoctoral Dental Education

Cameron L Randall; Casey D Wright; Dolores Cannella; Jessica G Hinz; Daniel W McNeil; Drashty P Mody; Gary Pape; Yun Saksena; Vaishali Singhal; Lance Brendan Young; Stuart M Schrader

doi:10.1002/jdd.70271

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Curriculum Guidelines for Social and Behavioral Sciences in Predoctoral Dental Education

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Curriculum Guidelines for Social and Behavioral Sciences in Predoctoral Dental Education

Cameron L Randall, Casey D Wright, Dolores Cannella, Jessica G Hinz, Daniel W McNeil, Drashty P Mody, Gary Pape, Yun Saksena, Vaishali Singhal, Lance Brendan Young, …

Journal of dental education

06/19/2026

DOI: 10.1002/jdd.70271

PMID: 42319191

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https://doi.org/10.1002/jdd.70271View

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Abstract

Social and behavioral sciences are an integral part of predoctoral dental education, given the important role of social and behavioral factors in oral health, dentist-patient communication, the provision of person-centered care, and patients' experience of dental treatment and their treatment outcomes. The most recent curriculum guidelines in this area were published more than 30 years ago. Given the significant advances made in research, theory, and application since then, as well as the evolution of accreditation standards, the aim of this project was to provide updated curriculum guidelines. Twenty-one experts participated in a modified Delphi technique to reach agreement on the definition of "behavioral science" and recommended topics, teaching/assessment methods, and other curricular considerations for effective and contemporary instruction in social and behavioral sciences as applied to dentistry and oral health. There was expert consensus on seven guidelines, which are presented here along with corresponding explanations and lists of topics that should be included in curricula to facilitate alignment with the guidelines. Expert consensus was also found for related prerequisites, instruction and assessment approaches, teaching facilities, and integration with other parts of the predoctoral dental curriculum. These updated curriculum guidelines have the potential to advance dental education and the practice of dentistry by fostering effective holistic care.

Education

Psychology

Delphi technique

dental

patient‐centered care

Teaching/Learning

communication

Details

Title: Subtitle: Curriculum Guidelines for Social and Behavioral Sciences in Predoctoral Dental Education
Creators: Cameron L Randall - University of Washington
Casey D Wright - Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
Dolores Cannella - Stony Brook School
Jessica G Hinz - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Daniel W McNeil - University of Florida
Drashty P Mody - Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis
Gary Pape - Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
Yun Saksena - University of Nebraska Medical Center
Vaishali Singhal - Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Lance Brendan Young - University of Iowa
Stuart M Schrader - Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of dental education
DOI: 10.1002/jdd.70271
PMID: 42319191
NLM abbreviation: J Dent Educ
ISSN: 1930-7837
eISSN: 1930-7837
Publisher: Wiley
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 06/19/2026
Academic Unit: Preventive and Community Dentistry
Record Identifier: 9985175373602771

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