Community Oral Health

JACOSALEM, Miralyn D. DIZON, Karl Lester DOLOSO, Shyra Jane DEL FIERRO, Brandon KAFAYATI, Kamran

Dental Public Health

-is the science and art of preventing and controlling dental diseases and promoting dental health through organized community effort. -it is that form of community as a patient rather than the individual. -it is concerned with dental health education of the public, with applied dental research, and with the administration of group, as well as the prevention and control of dental diseases on a community basis (American Board of Dental Public Health, ABDPH)

Health Promotion

-is the science and art of helping people and society change their lifestyles to attain optimal health

Oral Health Promotion

o It includes educational programs such as tobacco prevention and cessation programs and public school oral hygiene instructions o Social programs include water fluoridation and school sealant programs o Legislative activities include creating laws and funding for programs that promote oral health and create increased access to care

Oral Health Education

-is learning experience directed at helping people prevent oral disease -it can be presented directly to clients through individual or group activities such as health fairs or in school curricula

Prevention and Oral Health Promotion

3 LEVELS OF DISEASE PREVENTION 1. Primary Prevention is the intervention in disease before it occurs e.g. community water fluoridation fluoride varnish pit and fissure sealant preventive education

Prevention and Oral Health Promotion

2. Secondary Prevention is the treatment or control of the disease early in the process e.g. conservative amalgam restoration remineralization of early caries conservative periodontal therapy

Prevention and Oral Health Promotion

3. Tertiary Prevention is limiting the disability from a disease or rehabilitation of an individual e.g. Dentures or other prosthetic devices Periodontal surgery

Social Factors in Oral Health Promotion

-it includes customs, values, social networks and ethnicity are associated with oral diseases

This factors may affect the health of an individual on the 1. Micro Level: Individual -characteristic such as age, gender, socioeconomic position, ethnicity and race may dictate ones place in a culture, community, society or family group

Social Factors in Oral Health Promotion

2. Meso Level: Institutional -institutions, organization and social networks influence and sustain individual behavioral norms and health practices
family is the most powerful social determinant in oral health; values, beliefs and knowledge stem from the home and may be based in cultural traditions

-groups and organization , such as athletic association, reflect social norms that influence oral health

Social Factors in Oral Health Promotion

3. Macro Level: Agencies -culture and society have control over oral health

Psychological Factors in Oral Health

-social, cognitive and emotional factors such as stress, values, attitudes, self-esteem, helplessness, vulnerability, isolation, emotional poverty, family modeling and beliefs and the influence of the media play a role in health behaviors -positive health behaviors that promotes general health also contribute to oral health

Psychological Factors in Oral Health

Health behaviors that improve oral health include:

Regular tooth brushing Use of interdental cleaning devices Regular self-oral exams Use of oral protective mouth guards and protective gear during sports activities

Components of Effective Oral Health Promotion Programs

INTERVENTION -any health action-any promotive, preventive, curative or rehabilitative activity in which the primary intent is to improve health -it should be effective and efficient and based on sound rationale

ASPECTS OF EFFECTIVE HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAMS

Not dependent on compliance Cost-effective Assurance of correct use Adequate funding Available to those in need Effective in reducing disease incidence Feasible Safe Evaluated frequently

Dental Programs
FLUORIDES one of the most effective anticaries methods developed to date -widely used on a global scale A. Community Water Fluoridation -according to Federation Dentaire International (FDI), fluoridation of water supplies, where possible, remains the prevention and treatment of dental decay

Dental Programs
The WHO, in support of water fluoridation, has set requirements for its use:
Areas with moderate or high risk of dental caries Areas where the economy can support it and the technology is available Areas where water supplies are well organized, used by the public, and appropriately funded Equipment in the water plant should be of high standard Fluoride chemicals should be available and trained personnel should be available to manage the system

Dental Programs

B. Fluoridated Bottled water -as more people especially children are consuming bottled water, community water fluoridation has less impact on the greater population -health conscious parents have a choice to give their children bottled water with or without fluoride levels optimized

C. School Water Fluoridation -an alternative to community water fluoridation -this method can be used if the school has a standalone water system that is not connected to the community water supply -because children are only at school part of each weekday the recommended concentration is 4.5times than the optimal concentration for community system

D. Fluoride Gels -strengthens the tooth enamel against the detrimental effects of the bacterial activities that may result in tooth decay

 Fluoride Gels are acidic, highly concentrated fluoride products that dentists topically apply to a patients teeth about two times a year.

Application

Before applying the fluoride gel, put disclosing solution on the childs teeth, remove plaque and calculus by scaling. Then use the prophy cup and brush Using gentle finger pressure, open the childs mouth Select the appropriate size of tray Dry the patients mouth with a gauze sponge and make sure there is no open cavity Place fluoride gel on the tray (about 1/3 of the tray)

 Gently place it into the patients mouth Post Application Instructions

E. Fluoride Varnish
-is a liquid which when painted on the surfaces of teeth forms a coat of fluoride and supplies fluoride to the teeth in a sustained manner over several hours as against gels or foams. Fluoride varnishes are found to be more effective than fluoride gels or foams.

Application
Brush the patients mouth Dry the patients mouth and apply fluoride varnish by quadrant Avoid applying fluoride varnish on large open cavity where there may be pulp involvement Varnish dries quickly upon contact with the saliva Post application instructions

Fluoride Varnish

Dental Sealants

-are thin plastic coatings that are applied to the grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from tooth decay. -The sealant quickly bonds into the depressions and grooves of the teeth, forming a protective shield over the enamel of each tooth.

Dental Sealants

-most tooth decay in children and teens occurs on these surfaces. Sealants protect the chewing surfaces from tooth decay by keeping germs and food particles out of these grooves -although thorough brushing and flossing can remove food particles and plaque from smooth surfaces of teeth, they cannot always get into all the nooks and crannies of the back teeth to remove the food and plaque.

Application

1. First the teeth that are to be sealed are thoroughly cleaned. 2. Each tooth is then dried, and cotton or another absorbent material is put around the tooth to keep it dry. 3. An acid solution is put on the chewing surfaces(etching) of the teeth to roughen them up, which helps the sealant bond to the teeth. 4. The teeth are then rinsed and dried.

Application

5. Sealant is then painted onto the tooth enamel, where it bonds directly to the tooth and hardens. Sometimes a special curing light is used to help the sealant harden.

 Sealants can protect teeth from decay for up to 10 years, but they need to be checked for chipping or wearing at regular dental check-ups. Your dentist can replace sealants as necessary.

Children's Oral Health

Tooth decay (dental caries) affects children more than any other chronic infectious disease Untreated tooth decay causes pain and infections that may lead to problems; such as eating, speaking, playing, and learning.

Children's Oral Health

What Parents and Caregivers Can Do Encourage your children to eat regular nutritious meals, avoid frequent between-meal snacking and to brush their teeth regularly (3x a day). Protect your child's teeth with fluoride. Use a fluoride toothpaste. If your child is less than 7 years old, put only a pea-sized amount on their toothbrush. If your drinking water is not fluoridated, talk to a dentist or physician about the best way to protect your child's teeth.

 Talk to your child's dentist about dental sealants. They protect teeth from decay. If you are pregnant, get prenatal care and eat a healthy diet. The diet should include folic acid to prevent birth defects of the brain and spinal cord and possibly cleft lip/palate.

Tooth brushing is very important

Visit your dentist regularly