Dental schools must maintain a collegial environment of academic excellence where faculty are engaged extensively in scholarly pursuits that enhance the quality of instruction, advance the understanding of human biology and pathology, and raise the standard of oral health. Constraints imposed by the tenure system are discussed. (MLW)

A survey of the tenure status of clinical dental faculty, faculty turnover rates, sources of new faculty, and future projections are discussed. Projections indicate a lower turnover rate, increased tenure denial, more stringent application of criteria, and the development of dual tracks for clinical dental faculty. (MLW)

The hypothesis that the demand for dental education has affected or will negatively affect the availability of dental care is tested by examining a series of questions relating to students, faculty, schools of dentistry and their parent universities, and manpower. (MSE)

Schools of dentistry (=60) were surveyed to determine the status of full-time faculty and compared to responses made in 1980 to the identical survey. There has been a decrease in the number of full-time clinical faculty whereas the proportion of clinical faculty with tenure has increased. (Author/MLW)