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Description
Introduces the history and principles of community dental health and healthcare delivery systems. Topics include strategies and methods to prevent oral disease, educational and program planning, oral health promotion, the development of public policy, epidemiology, research methods, and implementation of community efforts to enlighten the public on oral health and wellness. Students to plan, implement, and evaluate a community dental hygiene service-learning project.
Prerequisites
Students are required to pass prerequisite courses with a grade of C or higher. Exceptions apply; please consult your department chair.
Corequisite Courses
Learning Outcomes
- Identify and describe the principles of community health as it relates to oral health and the dental professional.
- Discuss the importance of the federal and state government in community health.
- Describe the role of dental professionals and community health organizations in oral health advocacy and public policy.
- Advocate the role of the dental hygienist, in activities related to the prevention and control of dental diseases, general and oral health education, and promotion of general and oral health.
- Integrate critical thinking skills and comprehensive problem-solving to identify oral health care strategies that promote patient health and wellness.
- Describe various research principles, including ethical considerations and study designs, used in epidemiological research.
- Identify epidemiology, trends, etiology, risk factors, and common dental indices to measure oral diseases and conditions such as caries, periodontal diseases, and oral cancer.
- Assess the need, plan, implement, and evaluate a service learning program for a targeted population.
- Develop an appreciation for self-evaluation and professional growth through life-long learning.
- Apply professional code of ethics, values, skills, and knowledge in all professional endeavors.
- Assess the community’s oral health needs and the quality and availability of resources and services.
- Initiate an interprofessional collaborative approach with all patients when developing and implementing community dental health programs that are specialized, preventive services, culturally sensitive, and promote health and wellness to all populations.
