Dental public health: An introduction to community dental health

Across the world, the segment of the elderly in populations is seen to be increasing at a rapid rate. There also exists a trend in which more teeth are retained as age increases due to effective dental public health measures like fluoridation. This inevitably places an increased need for dental healthcare among the geriatric populations. Since oral health greatly affects the systemic health of aged individuals, it is imperative for dentists and physicians to work together as a team to impart treatment to the best of one’s abilities for geriatric patients. It is therefore, necessary to first assess the oral health concerns surrounding the geriatric population from the perspective of public health dentistry. Relationship of the elderly with periodontal disease, dental caries, salivary hyposalivation and xerostomia, cognitive changes, and simultaneous usage of diverse medications was discussed. This paper reviewed the literature and then examined and discussed the various problems mentioned in depth and suggested recommendations for a plan of action. Knowledge about the specific oral health concerns and issues will help to better position us in developing strategies for providing better oral healthcare to the geriatric population in addition to the existing systemic healthcare. In the future, the elderly will make up a huge portion of the demographic visiting dentist regularly for a myriad of oral health problems. Dental health professionals therefore, must have adequate training and competency to deal with the predicament of this geriatric population. Preventive and treatment services can ensure healthy aging which will improve the quality of life.

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Increasing Performance Treatment Index’s Score (PTI) of Elementary School Children in Keputih-Surabaya Through Dental Public Health Warrior Project

DENTA ◽

10.30649/denta.v11i2.101 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 83

Author(s):

Aulia Dwi Maharani

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Elementary Schools ◽

Elementary Students ◽

Elementary School Children ◽

Dental Health ◽

Social Activity ◽

Dental Public Health ◽

T Score ◽

Before And After ◽

The Mean

Introduction:The Dental Public Health Warrior (DPHW) project is a social activity which provides a creative, fun, and interactive dental health education throughout elementary schools in Keputih Area-Surabaya,Indonesia. Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effectivity of those projects in increasing the Performance Treatment Index of elementary school’s student. PTI score used to measure the willingness to treat their teeth. Materials and Methods:In this pre experimental study (pretest and posttest only design), subjects were 54 elementary students (4th grade) . All subjects were educated by the DPHW team and their DMF-t score and PTI score were collected by calibrated dentists before the education and in 3 months after the education. Results: The mean of DMF-t score increase from 6,7 to 6,9. The mean of PTI score increase from 3,7 to 9,5 . Wilcoxon analysis showed there is significant different between before and after education (p= 0,001). Conclusion:. The DPHW project can be effectively used to increase the Performance Treatment Index of elementary school’s student. The increase of PTI indekx means there is increase in willingness to treat their teeth. Keywords: Dental Public Health Warrior Project, PTI score , Performance Treatment Index,elemntary school, Surabaya. Corrrespondence:Aulia Dwi Maharani, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Hang Tuah University,Arif Rahman Hakim 150, Surabaya,Phone 031-5945864, Email: <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>.

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Resource Allocation in a National Dental Service Using Program Budgeting Marginal Analysis

JDR Clinical & Translational Research ◽

10.1177/23800844211056241 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 238008442110562

Author(s):

C.R. Vernazza ◽

K. Carr ◽

R.D. Holmes ◽

J. Wildman ◽

J. Gray ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Resource Allocation ◽

Dental Health ◽

Care Home ◽

Panel Discussion ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Health Staff ◽

Dental Public Health ◽

Marginal Analysis ◽

Program Budgeting

Introduction: In any health system, choices must be made about the allocation of resources (budget), which are often scarce. Economics has defined frameworks to aid resource allocation, and program budgeting marginal analysis (PBMA) is one such framework. In principle, patient and public values can be incorporated into these frameworks, using techniques such as willingness to pay (WTP). However, this has not been done before, and few formal resource allocation processes have been undertaken in dentistry. This study aimed to undertake a PBMA with embedded WTP values in a national dental setting. Methods: The PBMA process was undertaken by a panel of participant-researchers representing commissioners, dentists, dental public health staff, and academics. The panel reviewed current allocations and generated a set of weighted criteria to evaluate services against. Services to be considered for removal and investment were determined by the panel and wider discussion and then scored against the criteria. Values from a nationally representative WTP survey of the public contributed to the scores for interventions. Final decisions on removal and investment were taken after panel discussion using individual anonymous electronic voting. Results: The PBMA process resulted in recommendations to invest in new program components to improve access to general dentists, care home dentistry, and extra support for dental public health input into local government decisions. Disinvestments were recommended in orthodontics and to remove routine scaling and polishing of teeth. Discussion: The PBMA process was successful in raising awareness of resource allocation issues. Implementation of findings will depend on the ability of decision makers to find ways of operationalizing the decisions. The process illustrates practical aspects of the process that future dental PBMAs could learn from. Knowledge Transfer Statement: This study illustrates a framework for resource allocation in dental health services and will aid decision makers in implementing their own resource allocation systems.

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Essential Dental Public Health

10.1093/oso/9780199679379.001.0001 ◽

2013 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Blánaid Daly ◽

Paul Batchelor ◽

Elizabeth Treasure ◽

Richard Watt

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Promotion ◽

Vital Role ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Dental Public Health ◽

Oral Health Promotion ◽

Dental Practitioners ◽

The World ◽

The Subject ◽

Based Medicine

Public health is a key concern of modern dental practitioners as they continue to play a vital role in the health of populations across the world. The second edition of Essential Dental Public Health identifies the links between clinical practice and public health with a strong emphasis on evidence-based medicine. Fully revised and updated for a second edition, this textbook is split into four parts covering all the need-to-know aspects of the subject: the principles of dental public health, oral epidemiology, prevention and oral health promotion, and the governance and organization of health services. Essential Dental Public Health is an ideal introduction to the field for dentistry undergraduates, as well as being a helpful reference for postgraduates and practitioners.

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