Teamwork in Prevention: Possibilities and Barriers to Integrating Oral Health Into General Health

Abstract

While the term "teamwork" has been used in preventive dentistry for decades, little work has been done in the area of integrating oral health into general health via participation in primary health care or interdisciplinary teams. Oral health professionals must be prepared at the pre-professional and professional levels with the knowledge and skills required to become effective members and leaders of collaborative teams. This paper describes guiding principles for successful team development that are derived from the experience of other disciplines. As oral health professionals take a more active part in interdisciplinary collaborative teams, they must be prepared for roles beyond that of clinician. Five additional roles and examples of their importance to the prevention of oral disease and conditions are discussed.