Using competencies to improve dental practice management education.

The ADEA Competencies for the New General Dentist contain a significant number of practice management-related competencies. To date, these have been taught primarily in a lecture format in the third and fourth years of the dental curriculum. Presenting information in this way only satisfies the lower level learning skills, not the skills needed to become a competent general dentist. This article presents a framework for applying the competency-based education model to dental practice management teaching, learning, and assessment.