BDS Public Health Dentistry Syllabus

Public Health Dentistry syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Public Health Dentistry in BDS, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Introduction to Public Health Dentistry

   3 topics

   • Definition and Concepts
     • Public Health
     • Dental Public Health
     • Community Dentistry
   • History and Evolution
     • Early Developments
     • Modern Era
     • Key Figures in Public Health Dentistry
   • Principles of Public Health
     • Prevention Levels
     • Health Promotion
     • Disease Prevention
2. 2

   Epidemiology in Dentistry

   4 topics

   • Introduction to Epidemiology
     • Definition and Scope
     • Types of Epidemiological Studies
   • Measures of Disease Frequency
     • Incidence
     • Prevalence
     • Mortality Rates
   • Study Designs
     • Descriptive Studies
     • Analytical Studies
     • Experimental Studies
   • Oral Disease Surveillance
     • Surveillance Systems
     • Data Collection Methods
     • Data Analysis
3. 3

   Biostatistics in Public Health Dentistry

   4 topics

   • Introduction to Biostatistics
     • Definition and Importance
     • Types of Data
   • Descriptive Statistics
     • Measures of Central Tendency
     • Measures of Dispersion
   • Inferential Statistics
     • Hypothesis Testing
     • Confidence Intervals
     • P-Values
   • Statistical Software
     • SPSS
     • R
     • SAS
4. 4

   Preventive Dentistry

   4 topics

   • Principles of Prevention
     • Primary Prevention
     • Secondary Prevention
     • Tertiary Prevention
   • Fluoride Therapy
     • Systemic Fluoride
     • Topical Fluoride
     • Fluoridation of Water
   • Dental Sealants
     • Indications
     • Application Techniques
     • Effectiveness
   • Oral Hygiene Education
     • Brushing Techniques
     • Flossing
     • Mouth Rinses
5. 5

   Health Policy and Management

   4 topics

   • Health Care Systems
     • Types of Health Care Systems
     • Health Care Financing
     • Health Insurance
   • Health Policy Formulation
     • Policy Development Process
     • Stakeholder Involvement
     • Policy Implementation
   • Health Program Planning
     • Needs Assessment
     • Program Design
     • Program Evaluation
   • Leadership in Public Health
     • Leadership Theories
     • Leadership Skills
     • Ethical Leadership
6. 6

   Behavioral Sciences in Dentistry

   3 topics

   • Introduction to Behavioral Sciences
     • Role in Dentistry
     • Behavioral Theories
   • Patient Communication
     • Effective Communication Techniques
     • Patient Education
     • Motivational Interviewing
   • Behavior Change Models
     • Health Belief Model
     • Stages of Change Model
     • Social Cognitive Theory
7. 7

   Special Populations in Dentistry

   4 topics

   • Pediatric Dentistry
     • Oral Health in Children
     • Common Pediatric Oral Diseases
     • Preventive Strategies
   • Geriatric Dentistry
     • Oral Health in Elderly
     • Common Geriatric Oral Diseases
     • Preventive Strategies
   • Special Needs Dentistry
     • Oral Health in Special Needs Patients
     • Management Strategies
     • Preventive Care
   • Underserved Populations
     • Barriers to Care
     • Cultural Competency
     • Community Outreach Programs

Public Health Dentistry flashcards for BDS

20 of 51 cards from the Public Health Dentistry deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. Define "public health" according to C.-E.A. Winslow (1920), the classic definition used in dentistry.

   Public health is the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting physical health and efficiency through organized community efforts.

2. How did the American Board of Dental Public Health define "dental public health"?

   The science and art of preventing and controlling dental diseases and promoting dental health through organized community efforts; it serves the community as the patient rather than the individual.

3. What is the fundamental difference in the "patient" between private dental practice and dental public health?

   In private practice the individual is the patient; in dental public health the community (population) is the patient.

4. Who is regarded as the "Father of Public Health Dentistry"?

   Dr. John W. Knutson (with H. Trendley Dean often credited as pioneer of dental public health epidemiology for fluoride/fluorosis work).

5. What landmark discovery did H. Trendley Dean make, and what index did he develop?

   He established the inverse relationship between fluoride in water, dental caries, and mottled enamel (fluorosis), and developed Dean's Fluorosis Index.

6. When and where was the first community water fluoridation program started?

   In 1945 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.

7. List the three core functions of public health as defined by the Institute of Medicine (1988).

   Assessment, Policy Development, and Assurance.

8. State the classic Epidemiologic Triad of disease causation.

   Agent, Host, and Environment (interacting over time).

9. Define "epidemiology."

   The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and the application of this study to control health problems.

10. Distinguish between "endemic," "epidemic," and "pandemic."

    Endemic = constant/usual presence of a disease in an area; Epidemic = occurrence clearly in excess of expected in a community; Pandemic = an epidemic spread over several countries/continents affecting large populations.

11. Give the formula for prevalence.

    $$\text{Prevalence} = \frac{\text{Number of existing cases at a point in time}}{\text{Total population at that time}}$$

12. Give the formula for incidence rate (cumulative incidence).

    $$\text{Incidence} = \frac{\text{Number of new cases during a period}}{\text{Population at risk during that period}}$$

13. State the relationship linking prevalence (P), incidence (I), and average duration (D) of a disease.

    $P \approx I \times D$ (for a stable, low-prevalence condition).

14. Write the formula for the incidence density (person-time incidence rate).

    $$\text{Incidence density} = \frac{\text{Number of new cases}}{\text{Total person-time at risk}}$$

15. Define "attack rate" and give its formula.

    A cumulative incidence used in outbreaks: $$\text{Attack rate} = \frac{\text{Number of new cases in a period}}{\text{Population at risk at start of period}} \times 100$$

16. Classify epidemiologic study designs into the two broad categories with examples.

    Observational (descriptive: case report/series, cross-sectional; analytical: case-control, cohort) and Experimental/Interventional (randomized controlled trials, community trials).

17. Which study design is best for rare diseases, and which for rare exposures?

    Case-control study is best for rare diseases; cohort study is best for rare exposures.

18. Which measure of association is calculated in a cohort study versus a case-control study?

    Cohort study yields Relative Risk (RR); case-control study yields Odds Ratio (OR).

19. Write the formula for Relative Risk (RR) using a 2×2 table with cells a, b, c, d.

    $$RR = \frac{a/(a+b)}{c/(c+d)}$$

20. Write the formula for the Odds Ratio (OR) using a 2×2 table with cells a, b, c, d.

    $$OR = \frac{a \times d}{b \times c}$$

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