PUBH 6700 - DENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH

[2 Credits]

This course is intended to introduce students to the philosophy, practice, and principles of dental public health, and its application to population based oral health. These four areas have been identified by the American Board of Dental Public Health as knowledge needed for the specialty practice of dental public health-administration, research, prevention, and delivery and financing of dental care-are used as a framework for examining dental public health practice. The organization, delivery, and financing of oral health care, primarily in the United States, and how public health dentistry does and should fit into the health care system are emphasized. Differences in the roles of a private dental practitioner and a dental public health specialist are addressed. Students will learn the importance of core public health functions, and different public health and dental public health achievements in the US. Disparities in oral health status and access to dental care among underserved populations are addressed. A brief overview of different dental care delivery systems in the US, and the importance of other dental and non-dental workforce models in increasing dental care are also discussed. The lectures will be presented by the instructor; discussions will be led by assigned students.