Community Dental Health

DH 417 Community Dental Health is the continuation of DH 407 Dental Public Health Concepts. This course is designed to prepare the student to function as an effective oral health practitioner, educator, and resource person in a variety of community health settings. Evidence-based decision making will be applied to dental public health settings. Community water fluoridation, other forms of fluoridation, and other public health methods of primary prevention will be explored in terms of cost efficiency, efficacy, and safety. The role of the dental hygienist in tobacco cessation education will be emphasized. Community partners will be identified, if applicable to the class project. Students will conduct field work to identify an area of interest by contacting organizations, businesses, or educational institutions to discuss the feasibility of project ideas and the availability of participation. Emphasis will be on the development of a community service project on dental hygiene related topics taking into consideration the education level, SES, ethnicity, gender, age, and cultural considerations of their intended target population or audience.