STANDARD COMPETENCIES:

 

 I.      Introduction to Dental Public Health

         A.      Define:  health, public health, community and dental public health.

         B.      List the four broad areas of concern for public health.

         C.      Define the role of federal, state and local public health agencies.

 II.     Principles of Epidemiology, Demographics and Patterns of Oral Disease

         A.      Describe the use of the epidemiology model:  host, agent, environment; and identify how this model is applied to the study of general and oral disease, especially caries, periodontal disease and oral cancer.

         B.      Demonstrate application of commonly used dental indices.  Given case examples be able to apply knowledge of the index to interpret scores.

 III.    Research Methodology and Biostatistics

         A.      Define ¿scientific method¿ and application to dental research.

         B.      Describe the components of the research process that contribute to reliability and validity.

         C.      Provide a rationale for the use of statistics in the research process.

 IV.     Prevention of Dental Disease and Trauma Using Public Health Strategies

         A.      Explain the rationale for preventive efforts in dental public health.

         B.      List the three levels of prevention.  Provide examples from private and public dentistry for each level.

 V.      Dental Health Education Principles and Techniques

         A.      Using the model of the planning process, identify the correct order for the steps of the process and identify rationale for this order.

         B.      Identify the purpose of assessment and give examples of specific data sources from:  the individual learner; professional texts and journals, government agencies and national health agendas, commercial sources, media sources, professionals, target group leaders and caretakers (teachers, nurses, etc.), political leaders, community agencies.

 VI.     Planning Process for Community Based Dental Health Care

         A.      Given lectures, readings and guest speakers, list at least six examples of roles for the dental hygienist in community based oral health initiatives.

         B.      Using the dental health education lesson planning process described previously, list the steps of community based project planning, and compare the steps to private dental practice.

 VII.    Issues in Dental Public Health

         A.      Given lecture and guest speakers, discuss how the following issues impact dental public health:  prioritizing the use of preventive methods; access to care;  manpower and distribution of manpower; financing; quality assurance.

         B.      In regard to dental care financing, define and discuss applications of the following:  private practice and fee for service; retail and franchise practices; direct reimbursement; managed care and third party prepayment plans:  usual and customary fees, HMOs, capitation, closed and open panel, preferred provider network and PPOs, mobile dentistry, public and governmental financing of dental care:  Title XIX Medicaid, state CHIPs, federal dental care to selected target groups such as military, VA, prisons, Public Health Service, American Indian reservations; community health centers and clinics.

 TOPICAL OUTLINE:

 

 I.      Community Focused Oral Health

 II.     Demographics and Epidemiology

 III.    Epidemiology of Caries and use of the caries index ¿ DMF

 IV.     Epidemiology  & indices of periodontal disease, oral cancer,

 V.      and other dental conditions

 VI.     Biostatistics and Research

 VII.    Prevention of Dental Disease

 VIII.   Principles of and strategies of Dental Health Education

 IX.     Planning Process for Community Based Dental Health Care

 X       Access to care issues

 XI.     Financing and Quality Assurance