Question 1

The staff of a nonprofit health center in your community approach you about helping them develop an oral health program for the population they serve. Based on experiences of their patients and observations of the health providers employed by the health center, their initial interest is dental care for underserved low-income adults and older adults in the community.
-As your first step, you collect background information on previous successes for solving dental public health problems. All of the following EXCEPT one are examples of dental public health successes that have been documented in relation to improving oral health and oral health care in the United States. Which one is the EXCEPTION?
A) Improved access to oral health care
B) Understanding of and emphasis on the link between oral and overall health
C) Implementation of water fluoridation
D) Elimination of oral health disparities

Accepted Answer

Although oral health disparities have been reduced by various public health initiatives, they have not been eliminated. Strides have been made in improving access to oral health care for Americans through major national efforts of oral health organizations, policymakers, and advocacy groups. The 2010 Affordable Care Act has improved access to oral care for underserved individuals, although gaps still exist in dental care coverage for adults. The link between oral and overall health, and the association of oral diseases and complications with medical diseases and conditions have been established and communicated throughout public health and health disciplines. Water fluoridation is considered one of the great public health achievements of the 20th century.

Question 2

The staff of a nonprofit health center in your community approach you about helping them develop an oral health program for the population they serve. Based on experiences of their patients and observations of the health providers employed by the health center, their initial interest is dental care for underserved low-income adults and older adults in the community.
-Which of the following is the first major national initiative that continues to affect dental public health today and provides a resource for background information on the needs of this priority population?
A) Healthy People 2020
B) Surgeon General's Report Oral Health in America
C) Surgeon General's report A National Call to Action to Promote Oral Health
D) Institute of Medicine report Advancing Oral Health in America

Accepted Answer

The Surgeon General's Report Oral Health in America was released in 2000 and forms the foundation of future reports and national initiatives of the federal government as well as oral health initiatives of state and local governments, oral health professional organizations, and other agencies and organizations. It was the first national report to acknowledge the importance of oral health to overall health, to describe the oral health disparities in our nation, and to emphasize the need for public health programs to address dental disease in the population. The Surgeon General's report A National Call to Action to Promote Oral Health was released in 2003 to identify strategies to address the issues and problems identified in 2000 in Oral Health in America. The Institute of Medicine report Advancing Oral Health in America was released in 2011. It described the continuation of the problems of oral disease status and disparities described in the earlier reports and reinforced the association of oral diseases and complications with medical diseases and conditions. Healthy People 2020 was released in 2010 and includes oral health objectives that are meant to be achieved by the year 2020 to improve the oral health problems described in the three earlier reports. These objectives direct the agenda of government health programs and form the foundation for all other community health programming.

Question 3

The staff of a nonprofit health center in your community approach you about helping them develop an oral health program for the population they serve. Based on experiences of their patients and observations of the health providers employed by the health center, their initial interest is dental care for underserved low-income adults and older adults in the community.
-Assessment data reveal high rates of untreated oral disease and a lack of dental insurance coverage among the population of interest, regardless of socioeconomic status. The community considers several solutions to the public health problem of oral health care for this priority population. Based on the characteristics of the ideal public health solution, which of the following dental public health programs is the best public health solution to the problem identified?
A) A free emergency extraction dental clinic to address dental pain
B) A free mobile denture clinic operated by denturists in long-term care facilities
C) An educational campaign on the oral healthcare needs of adults and older adults
D) A combination of two or more of these and other programs

Accepted Answer

None of the specific programs listed as answer choices has all the characteristics of an ideal public health solution. All of these solutions meet some but not all of these requirements and have various limitations. Combining two or more of these and other programs would overcome these limitations. The characteristics of the ideal public health solution are that it not be hazardous to life or function; that it be effective in reducing or preventing the targeted disease or condition and easily and efficiently implemented with minimum compliance required; that it maintain potency for a substantial period; and that it be attainable regardless of socioeconomic status, effective immediately on application, and inexpensive and within the means of the community. Other criteria are to target priority populations and to establish programs that meet the most critical needs of the most members of a priority population. A free denture clinic addresses only the needs of edentulous individuals. National data indicate that tooth loss and edentulousness have decreased in the population. In addition, conducting a program only in long-term care facilities makes it available to only a small segment of this priority population. The ideal program would provide affordable dental care (preventive care as well as restorative care, extractions, and dentures) for adults and older adults in such a way that they have access to it and in a manner that takes into account their ability to pay. Although educating the community on the importance of oral care and the needs of the community is important, it does not provide a means to address the chronic problem of providing dental care for the underserved population. An emergency dental clinic that provides tooth extractions without accompanying replacement of teeth compromises patients' ability to eat and social status, which contributes to continuation of their chronic oral health and overall health problems and compromised quality of life. Addressing a multifactorial oral health problem in a population generally requires multiple strategies to overcome the various limitations of any single solution.

Question 4

The staff of a nonprofit health center in your community approach you about helping them develop an oral health program for the population they serve. Based on experiences of their patients and observations of the health providers employed by the health center, their initial interest is dental care for underserved low-income adults and older adults in the community.
-A grant application is submitted to support the program. This is an example of which of the components of community oral health practice?
A) Program planning
B) Program operation
C) Financing
D) Analysis

Accepted Answer

Seeking funds though grant applications and other means is an activity related to financing or program funding, also referred to as budgeting for public health programming. Analysis is the scrutiny of assessment data for the purpose of identifying and prioritizing public health problems in the community. Program planning consists of the many facets of preparation, such as determining the best initiatives, methods, strategies, and costs of selecting a plan to address the needs of the community. Program operation, also called program implementation, is the carrying out of the planned activities.

Question 5

The staff of a nonprofit health center in your community approach you about helping them develop an oral health program for the population they serve. Based on experiences of their patients and observations of the health providers employed by the health center, their initial interest is dental care for underserved low-income adults and older adults in the community.
-The community population includes a high rate of retired older adults; thus, the community has a higher rate of long-term care facilities than other communities of comparable size. Review of the state guidelines for long-term care facilities reveals inadequate requirements to ensure access to oral health care for their residents. Seeking to change these guidelines would address which core public health function?
A) Assessment
B) Assurance
C) Policy development
D) Advocacy

Accepted Answer

There are three core public health functions-assessment, assurance, and policy development. Policy development is taking the lead in developing comprehensive public health policies based on sound scientific knowledge to solve a public health problem. Although this activity involves advocacy, the core public health function addressed is policy development. Assessment includes systematically collecting, assembling, analyzing, and making available information on the health issue or condition in the community; an example is to conduct a survey. Assurance involves making sure that public health services or solutions are available to the community for the purpose of addressing public health problems. Ensuring the availability of services by addressing workforce and funding issues is an example of assurance. Although addressing related policies can ultimately affect assurance, the more specific answer to this question is policy development.

Question 6

Which of the following is defined as "the science and art of preventing and controlling dental diseases and promoting dental health through organized community efforts"?
A)Community health
B)Population health
C)Dental public health
D)Dental hygiene

Accepted Answer

Dental public health has been defined by the American Association of Public Health Dentistry as "the science and art of preventing and controlling dental diseases and promoting dental health through organized community efforts."

Question 7

Community water fluoridation is an example of which of the following?
A)Public health problem
B)Population health
C)Dental disease
D)Public health solution

Accepted Answer

Community water fluoridation can be used to illustrate the characteristics of a public health solution. It meets all seven characteristics of a public health solution and is considered by public health officials to be an effective solution to the problem of dental caries.

Question 8

Which of the following government agencies enforces laws to ensure the safety and effectiveness of drugs, biologic products, and medical devices?
A)Department of Defense (DOD)
B)Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
C)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
D)National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Accepted Answer

Food and Drug Administration (FDA; www.fda.gov)-enforces laws to ensure the safety and effectiveness of drugs, biologic products, and medical devices.

Question 9

The federal government's role in participating in dental health-related activities primarily falls under the jurisdiction of which of the following agencies?
A)U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
B)Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
C)Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
D)Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Accepted Answer

The federal government's role in participating in dental health-related activities primarily falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Question 10

Hospitals, community clinics, and schools are all examples of:
A)private health practices.
B)public health problems.
C)community health settings.
D)population health.

Accepted Answer

Community oral health practice extends the role of the dental hygienist in private practice to include the people of the community as a whole. The public health facility or community setting (e.g., hospital, community clinic, school, or agency), rather than the private dental office, becomes the environment in which the service of oral health care is provided.

Question 11

Dental disease, including the widespread prevalence of dental caries, is one example of a(n):
A)public health problem.
B)public health solution.
C)outbreak.
D)severe disorder.

Accepted Answer

Dental disease has been described as a dental public health problem of universal prevalence that can be alleviated, and even prevented, with future public health measures.

Question 12

Assessment, policy development, and assurance are all examples of:
A)essential public health services.
B)core functions of public health.
C)public health agencies.
D)the Affordable Care Act.

Accepted Answer

Federal, state, and local programs have been charged with improving the health of people through the core functions of public health, which are assessment, policy development, and assurance.

Question 13

Which of the following is a recommended method to increase access to dental care among children in the U.S.?
A)Requiring every dentist to offer free care to underserved children
B)Authorizing dental therapists to offer care
C)Increasing governmental regulations
D)Asking for charitable donations in every dental office

Accepted Answer

Authorizing dental therapists to extend dental care to underserved populations was the method advocated by the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Question 14

Who has partnered with the ADHA on a program titled "Be Part of the Change" Campaign, which helps to spread awareness of oral cancer to help early detection by dental and medical practitioners?
A)American Dental Association
B)U.S. Food and Drug Administration
C)Oral Cancer Foundation
D)Center for Oral Health

Accepted Answer

In an example of interprofessional collaboration at the organizational level, the ADHA and Oral Cancer Foundation have partnered in an effort to spread awareness of oral cancer to help early detection by dental and medical practitioners, coming together on the "Be Part of the Change" Campaign.

Question 15

Competencies for graduate education for dental hygienists were developed jointly by what two associations?
A)ADHA and ADA
B)ADHA and ADEA
C)ADA and FDA
D)CDC and ADEA

Accepted Answer

Competencies for graduate education for dental hygienists were developed jointly by the ADHA and the ADEA.

Quiz 1: Peoples Health: An Introduction

Which of the following is defined as "the science and art of preventing and controlling dental diseases and promoting dental health through organized community efforts"?

Community water fluoridation is an example of which of the following?

Which of the following government agencies enforces laws to ensure the safety and effectiveness of drugs, biologic products, and medical devices?

The federal government's role in participating in dental health-related activities primarily falls under the jurisdiction of which of the following agencies?

Hospitals, community clinics, and schools are all examples of:

Dental disease, including the widespread prevalence of dental caries, is one example of a(n) :

Assessment, policy development, and assurance are all examples of:

Which of the following is a recommended method to increase access to dental care among children in the U.S.?

Who has partnered with the ADHA on a program titled "Be Part of the Change" Campaign, which helps to spread awareness of oral cancer to help early detection by dental and medical practitioners?

Competencies for graduate education for dental hygienists were developed jointly by what two associations?