Dental medicine has been progressing rapidly in recent years, and dental treatment support staff, such as dental hygienists, technicians and other professionals, is now being expected to acquire an even wider range of advanced knowledge and to possess specialized skills based on such knowledge. To promote the research and development of dental equipment and materials that support advanced dental medicine, moreover, it is becoming an urgent task to train researchers and developers who are familiar with the latest advances in dentistry and oral science. On the other hand, the importance of oral functions such as eating and speaking is becoming more broadly recognized. People in occupations who have no opportunities to receive specialized dentistry education, such as nurses, speech therapists, nursing teachers, and health administration officials are increasingly being called on to demonstrate knowledge and skills relating to dental and oral care in executing their nursing, long-term care, health guidance, public relations, and other awareness-raising activities. Examples include the provision of oral health guidance and management, and education on maintenance of the oral cavity. In April 2004, the Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry established a new Master's program especially for these types of individuals, and opened the door for specialized education and research in dentistry and oral science with the aim of cultivating the abilities needed for such advanced specialist professions, or the ability to conduct research on dentistry and oral science. Show less