Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 22, 2026

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Physicians' oral health education in Kentucky
Wanda C Gonsalves1, Judith Skelton, Tim Smith
1Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina 29425, USA. gonsalvw@musc.edu
Objectives:
The Physicians' Oral Health Education in Kentucky (POHEK) curriculum was developed to teach family medicine residents to (1) perform oral health screening and risk assessment and (2) recognize and manage common oral conditions for children ages 5 years and under.
Methods:
Family medicine residents in urban and rural settings received didactics and hands-on experience providing oral screening, risk assessments, and counseling for their pediatric patients.
Evaluation:
Residents were evaluated by comparing pretest and posttest means of surveys that assessed attitudes and knowledge. Chart audits were also performed.
Conclusions:
Residents' knowledge and attitudes improved in the oral health care of their pediatric patients.
Related Concept Videos
Assessment of the Mouth
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.
Oral Cavity
Teeth: The teeth are the hardest structures in our bodies. Humans have two sets of teeth throughout their lifetime: deciduous (baby) teeth and permanent teeth. Each tooth consists of several parts: the crown (visible part), the root (embedded in the jaw), enamel (hard outer...
Tooth Anatomy
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food.
Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...
Chronic Kidney Disease III: Interprofessional Care
Health Literacy
