Dental Education Without Borders
摘要
Dental education without borders (DEWB) refers to the globalized approach to dental education, leveraging technology and international collaboration to provide accessible, high-quality learning across geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic boundaries. DEWB advanced rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued to develop since then. This new approach to learning strives to remove all barriers that prevent the sharing and exchange of knowledge between learners based on the needs of the workforce and the requirements of the communities they serve. Its scope includes online learning platforms, a range of new learning approaches, virtual simulations, global partnerships, and cross-border exchanges to foster diverse, culturally competent dental professionals. However, challenges such as the digital divide, unequal access to resources, and maintaining the quality and accreditation of education remain significant. In the future, DEWB will likely evolve through the integration of advanced technologies, such as AI and virtual reality, for clinical simulations and an emphasis on global health competencies to address oral healthcare disparities worldwide.