Key Concepts in Dental Public Health

Question 1

Name 4 components of the public health approach

Answer 1

1. Population based
2. Identified collective responsibility for health and disease prevention
3. Recognising the role of the state
4. Emphasizing partnerships with all those who contribute to health of the population

Question 2

What is dental public health according to Downer et al, 1994?

Answer 2

The science and practice of preventing oral disease, promoting oral health and improving quality of life through the organised efforts of society

Question 3

What 5 sciences contribute to dental public health according to Ismail, 2008?

Answer 3

1. Dental
2. Behavioural
3. Public
4. Educational
5. Political

Question 4

Describe 6 benefits of a population approach to health

Answer 4

1. Why oral diseases are more prevalent in specific groups
2. Challenges and barriers facing patients
3. Role as a professional working with other health and social care professionals
4. Factors considered when planning services
5. Oral health from a global perspective
6. Recognising why preventive advice may not be “heard”

Question 5

What is treatment of dental diseases for individual patients?

Answer 5

Accurate excision of diseased tissue and its replacement

Question 6

Describe a restorative cycle?

Answer 6

• Lack of appreciation of how to support patients’ maintaining their oral health
• Disease can re-occur
• Further excision and replacement

Question 7

Describe 3 features of community and global perspectives of public health

Answer 7

1. Working with colleagues in primary health care to support patients
2. Supporting oral health promotion within communities
3. Appreciating health challenges and impact of health services in other countries

Question 8

What are 5 examples of activities in individual clinical practice?

Answer 8

1. Examination and diagnosis
2. Treatment planning
3. Informed consent
4. Mix of care, cure and prevention
5. Evaluation

Question 9

What are 5 examples of activities in public health practice?

Answer 9

1. Assessment of need
2. Programme planning
3. Ethics, equity and planning approval
4. Programme implementation
5. Appraisal and review

Question 10

What are 6 core dental public health topics?

Answer 10

1. Epidemiology
2. Oral health improvement
3. Evidence Based Dentistry
4. Health policy
5. Health service planning
6. Health promotion

Question 11

Name 4 key components of epidemiology

Answer 11

1. Oral health surveillance
2. Determinants
3. Demography
4. Medical statistics

Question 12

Describe the key component in oral health improvement

Answer 12

Underpinning sciences of sociology and psychology

Question 13

Describe the key component of evidence based dentistry

Answer 13

Effective methods

Question 14

Describe the key component of health policy

Answer 14

Plans and actions of government to improve health and provide services

Question 15

Describe 2 key components of health service planning

Answer 15

1. Health service management

2. Health economics

Question 16

Describe 2 key components of health protection

Answer 16

1. Safety and quality

2. Governance

Question 17

What are 3 ways populations can be grouped for dental public health?

Answer 17

1. City or defined geographical area
2. Particular group of population defined by a common demographic e.g. children
3. Group of people with common social circumstances e.g. homeless

Question 18

What 2 things does public health approach as applied to dentistry (Chestnutt, 2016) recognise?

Answer 18

1. Responsibility for health and prevention of oral disease is shared between professionals and individuals
2. Health is linked to life circumstances and lifestyles

Question 19

Name 3 policies at national, regional and local levels which improve public health (Chestnutt, 2016)

Answer 19

1. Public health legislation
2. Taxation of unhealthy products
3. Health improvement programmes

Question 20

Name 3 major programmes which bring public health and dental practitioners together to bring care

Answer 20

1. Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) program in USA
2. Childsmile in Scotland
3. Integrating school and dental practice programmes in England

Question 21

Describe the core programme of Childsmile in Scotland

Answer 21

• Every child receives a free toothbrush and toothpaste 6 times from birth to age 5
• Distributed by health visitors
• Supervised toothbrushing programmes

Question 22

Name 4 components of criteria for a public health probem

Answer 22

1. Prevalence
2. Impact on individuals
3. Impact on wider society
4. Prevention and treatment

Question 23

Describe 3 components which make up the prevalence of a condition in the criteria for a public health problem

Answer 23

1. Who has the disease?
2. How many people are affected?
3. Increasing / decreasing incidents?

Question 24

Describe 3 components which make up the impact of a condition on an individual in the criteria for a public health problem

Answer 24

1. How severe are effects?
2. Do people suffer pain and discomfort?
3. Ae they prevented from going to school / work?

Question 25

Describe 2 components which make up the impact of a condition on society in the criteria for a public health problem

Answer 25

1. What are costs to health service? | 2. Impacts of economic performance?

Question 26

Describe 3 components which make up the prevention and treatment of a condition in the criteria for a public health problem

Answer 26

1. Do we understand causes? 2. Can we detect early stages? 3. Can we stop progression?

Question 27

Name 4 potential immediate personal impacts of oral disease

Answer 27

1. Lowered self esteem 2. Functional limitation 3. Pain 4. Aesthetics

Question 28

Name 4 potential public impact of oral diseases

Answer 28

1. Poor educational performance 2. Increasing health and social inequality 3. Cost to the NHS 4. Reduced productivity of the workforce

Question 29

According to Daly et al, 2013, name 3 ways in which epidemiology changes affect the practice of dentistry

Answer 29

1. Reduction in caries for the young 2. Increasing health inequalities 3. Increased restorations in older adults

Question 30

According to Daly et al, 2013, name 3 ways in which demographic shifts affect the practice of dentistry

Answer 30

1. Aging of western populations 2. Different family structures 3. More mobile populations with increasing diversity

Question 31

According to Daly et al, 2013, name 3 ways in which social changes affect the practice of dentistry

Answer 31

1. How we communicate 2. How information is accessed 3. Increased public expectations

Question 32

According to Daly et al, 2013, name 3 ways in which technological changes affect the practice of dentistry

Answer 32

1. Health informatics 2. Environmental pressures 3. Pharma, new materials and costs

Question 33

According to Daly et al, 2013, name 2 ways in which politicalpressures changes affect the practice of dentistry

Answer 33

1. Cost containment | 2. Rationing care

Question 34

According to Daly et al, 2013, name 4 ways in which professional development affect the practice of dentistry

Answer 34

1. Life long learning 2. Skill mix 3. Accountability 4. Expectations

Question 35

How many phases are there in development of public health in industrialized countries?

Answer 35

4

Question 36

Describe the 1st stage of development of public health

Answer 36

- Industrialization and rapid urbanisation - Overcrowding, poor housing and infectious disease - High infant mortality and short lives

Question 37

How can public health be improved during the 1st stage of development of public health?

Answer 37

Improving living conditions and developing access to clean water

Question 38

Describe the 2nd phase of development of public health

Answer 38

- Developments lead to mass immunisation - Growth in maternal and child welfare services e.g. free school meals in UK - Establishment of School Dental Service

Question 39

Describe the 3rd phase of development of public health

Answer 39

- Concentration on medical treatments and service delivery in hospitals - Many infectious diseases disappear

Question 40

Describe the 4th phase of development of public health

Answer 40

- Limitations of therapy to tackle chronic disease - Spiralling cost cost of health case - Focus on maintaining good health

Question 41

Describe the impacts of internet on development of public health

Answer 41

- Rise in open access to information - Challenges to "expert" - Social media - False information - Patient advocacy