Dental public health.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Dental Medicine

Background:

• The dental profession holds primary responsibility for U.S. oral health care.
• Dental public health is a unique specialization focused on oral health issues.
• Major dental diseases, such as dental caries and periodontal disease, represent significant public health challenges due to their prevalence and untreated pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the unique evolution and scope of dental public health in the U.S.
• To underscore the public health significance of common dental diseases.
• To examine the expanding complexity of the dental care delivery system and its influence on oral health outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the historical development and current scope of dental public health.
• Assessment of the epidemiological impact of dental caries and periodontal disease.
• Examination of the dental care delivery system and its relation to oral health status.

Main Results:

• Dental public health has evolved uniquely within the dental profession.
• Dental caries and periodontal disease constitute major public health problems due to their widespread nature and high levels of untreated pathology.
• The field increasingly focuses on the comprehensive dental care delivery system and its impact on oral health.

Conclusions:

• Dental public health is a critical area addressing significant oral health challenges in the U.S.
• The understanding and value of oral health vary across different cultural and socioeconomic groups.
• The prevailing U.S. philosophy places primary responsibility for dental health on the individual.