dentourages

Dentourages is a neologism used in dental care discourse to describe the network of people, technologies, and processes that surround an individual’s dental care, rather than focusing solely on the procedures performed. The concept foregrounds how care pathways, communication, and decision-making involve multiple actors beyond the clinician who carries out treatment. In practice, dentourages can influence patient satisfaction, adherence to preventive regimens, and outcomes by shaping access, information flow, and coordination across settings.

Etymology and usage: The term combines dent- from dental and entourage. It is a relatively new term with no universally accepted definition, and its precise meaning varies by context. It is most often used in discussions of patient-centered care, care coordination, and health services research within dentistry.

Composition and implications: A dentourage can include dentists, dental hygienists, assistants, orthodontists, specialists, care coordinators, patients and families, dental clinics, insurers, educators, researchers, and digital tools such as electronic health records, tele-dentistry platforms, and patient portals. The concept supports analysis of care pathways, shared decision-making, and outcomes. Critics note that without standardized definitions the term can be vague and risk conflating distinct elements of care delivery.

See also: patient-centered care, care team, dental health services research.