Notes

1. Concepts In Dental Public
Health
Chapter 1
History and Principles of Dental
Public Health

2. What Is Health?
“Health is a state of complete physical,
mental, and social well-being and is not
merely the absence of disease or
infirmity.” (WHO –World Health
Organization)

3. What Is Public Health?
“The science and art of preventing disease,
prolonging life, and promoting physical health
and efficiency through organized
community efforts.” (Winslow,1920)
“Public health is people’s health. It is
concerned with the aggregate health of a
group, a community, a state, or a nation.”
(Knutson, 1955)

4. What Is Dental Public Health?
The science and art of preventing and
controlling dental diseases and promoting
dental health through organized community
efforts. It is that form of dental practice that
serves the community as a patient rather
than the individual. It is concerned with
dental health education of the public, with
applied dental research, and with the
administration of group dental care programs,
as well as the prevention and control of
dental diseases on a community basis.
(ABDPH – American Board of Dental Public

5. Outside Groups
 Health care provider groups
 Citizen coalitions
 Philanthropic organizations
 Third-party payers
 Schools
 Faith organizations
 Businesses

6. Remember!
 The most distinctive difference between
public health and private practice is the
concept of the community as the
patient.

7. Skills Used In Dental Public
Health
 Assessing/diagnosing oral health needs
 Planning/implementing/evaluating oral health
programs
 Providing educational services
 Applying research
 Using epidemiology
 Formulating policy
 Advocating
 Understanding health care organization

8. Core Functions of Public
Health
 Assessment
 Policy Development
 Assurance

9. Assessment
 Public health agencies regularly and
systematically collect, assemble,
analyze, and make information available
on the health of a community.

10. Policy Development
 Public health agencies serve the public
interest by promoting the use of
scientific knowledge in the development
of comprehensive public health policies.

11. Assurance
 Public health agencies assure their
constituents that services necessary to
achieve goals are provided.
 These services must be made available
to every member of the community.

12. The Purpose of Public Health
 Prevent epidemics and spread of
disease
 Protects against environmental hazards
 Prevents injuries
 Promotes/encourages healthy behaviors
 Responds to disasters
 Assures quality and accessibility of
health services

13. What Is A Public Health
Problem?
Two Criteria:
1. A condition or situation that is a
widespread actual or potential cause
of morbidity or mortality.
2. A perception by the public,
government, public health authorities
that the condition is a public health
problem.

14. Examples of Public Health
Problems
 Bioterrorism
 West Nile Virus
 SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome)
 Auto safety
 Water purification
 Oral disease

15. Phases of Public Health
 First Phase (1849-1900)
 Public health dealt with elimination and
control of disease b/c of rapid growth of
industry and crowded and poor working
conditions.

16. Phases Of Public Health
 Second Phase (1880-1930)
 Population based prevention strategies
 Immunizations
 Reduction of effects of diseases

17. Phases Of Public Health
 Third Phase (1930-1975)
 Treatment of disease through complex
medical treatments
 Infectious diseases eradicated
 Cures for acute health problems

18. Phases Of Public Health
 Fourth Phase
 We are in it now!
 Technology used in treatment
 Longer life expectancy = more health
issues
 Encourage healthy lifestyle choices (not
smoking)
 Global issues

19. ADHA Role in Public Health
 Mission: “to improve the public’s total
health.”
 Early profession of dental hygiene was
prepared to provide education and
treatment in the community setting.

20. Public Health Achievements
 Vaccination
 Motor vehicle safety
 Workplace safety
 Infectious disease control
 Reduction in death from CHD and stroke
 Safer and healthier food
 Healthier mothers and babies
 Family planning
 Fluoridated drinking water
 Tobacco use recognized as a health hazard

21. Healthy People 2020
 Comprehensive, nationwide, health
promotion and disease prevention plan
 1200 (approx) objectives
 42 focus areas (including dentistry)
 Progress tracked by National Center for
Health Statistics

22. Surgeon General’s Report On
Oral Health
 Released in May 2000
 First report from Surgeon General on oral
health in 50 year history
 Primary message is that oral health is a part
of general health and well-being of patients
 States that there are profound disparities in
oral health in America. (children, elderly,
disabled, ethnic groups)

23. Public Health Infrastructure
 See textbook page 11
 15 departments of government
 Public health falls under Department of
Health and Human Services
 IMPORTANT: Global health also affects
the health of the local population. (ie
AIDS, and SARS)