Public Health Dentistry — 30-Min Notes

1. Epidemiology

• Study of distribution and determinants of health and diseases in populations.

• Measures: prevalence, incidence, morbidity, mortality, and risk factors.

• High-yield: DMFT index → decayed, missing, filled teeth; key in dental surveys

• Tip: Epidemiology helps plan preventive programs and evaluate oral health interventions.

• Important terms: endemic, epidemic, pandemic, herd immunity.

2. Biostatistics

• Descriptive stats: mean, median, mode, standard deviation, standard error.

• Analytical stats: t-test, chi-square, ANOVA, correlation, regression.

• High-yield: P-value <0.05 → statistically significant

• Tip: Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value → diagnostic test evaluation.

• Sampling methods: random, stratified, cluster, systematic; affects study validity.

3. Health Programs & Preventive Dentistry

• Fluoride: water fluoridation (0.7–1.2 ppm), topical gels, varnishes for caries prevention.

• Dental health education → primary prevention; oral hygiene promotion reduces disease burden.

• High-yield: Pit and fissure sealants → prevent occlusal caries in children

• Tip: Primary prevention → before disease; secondary → early detection; tertiary → rehabilitation.

• Community programs: school dental health, mobile clinics, oral cancer screening.

4. Oral Health Surveys & Indices

• DMFT, deft → caries; CPI (WHO) → periodontal status; OHI-S → oral hygiene assessment.

• Dean’s index → dental fluorosis severity; PUFA index → pulp, ulcer, fistula, abscess assessment.

• High-yield: CPI > 3 → need for periodontal treatment

• Tip: Surveys guide policy, resource allocation, and preventive strategy planning.

• Sampling size, methodology, calibration → key for valid results.

5. Occupational & Environmental Dentistry

• Occupational hazards: silica dust → silicosis, mercury in dental amalgam → toxicity risk.

• Environmental factors: fluorosis, tobacco exposure, poor sanitation affect oral health.

• High-yield: Water fluoridation → caries prevention; excess → dental fluorosis

• Tip: PPE, safe disposal, and hygiene practices minimize occupational hazards.

• Role of health education → risk reduction in workplace and community.

6. Health Policies & Administration

• National Oral Health Policy → integrate oral health with primary healthcare.

• Dental manpower planning: dentist-population ratio, preventive vs curative focus.

• High-yield: School dental programs → cost-effective caries prevention

• Tip: Budget, manpower, resources → essential for public oral health management.

• Monitoring & evaluation → key for program success and improvement.

7. High-Yield Repeated Points (MDS NEET)

• DMFT index → caries assessment

• Fluoride → caries prevention (0.7–1.2 ppm), excess → fluorosis

• Pit and fissure sealants → preventive in children

• CPI → periodontal status evaluation

• Primary, secondary, tertiary prevention → key in exams

• School dental programs → repeated high-yield topic

• Health surveys guide policy & resource allocation