Preventive Dentistry

Introduction to Prevention Concepts

Text Books
Public Health
 It addresses all the issues
that relate to health
within a country or in the
world.

 Community health is the

local version of public
health that addresses the
local needs of the
community.
Public Health Model Vs
Medical Model
 Medical model is "re-
active"; waiting till
something goes wrong.
 Medical model is not
"proactive"; acting
before something goes
wrong (downstream)
 Public health model is
proactive.(upstream)
Upstream – Downstream
Approaches
 Resources should
be spent Upstream
to prevent diseases
and minimize costs
of medical Tx (in
preventable
diseases)
Upstream – Downstream
Approaches
 Water fluoridation in Louisiana state benefit
39000 preschoolers with annual reduction in
dental treatment costs is 1,4 million
 Dental treatment: caries related services
(restorations, crowns, pulpotomies), dental
care in hospitals OR under GA
Public Health Method

 Group responsibility
 Teamwork (efficient
handling of large group
of people e.g school
health)
 Prevention: a major
objective of public health
programs
 Dental Profession

 A commitment to provide quality

oral health care for the public
with access to all who need and
desire care
Dental Profession
 Oral health is integral to
general health.
 Enhancing the quality,
availability, affordability
and utilization of oral
health care benefits the
public's general health and
well being.
 Dental Public Health

 Is concerned with dental health

educator of the public.

 Applied dental research.

 Prevention & control of dental diseases

on a community basis.
Prevention as a Major
Objective

 Ethical ..prevention better than cure

 Teamwork

 Cost effective...prevention is far

cheaper than cure
 Dental Public Health
 Water Fluoridation costs 0,50$ per
individual and it reduces carries up to
40%.
 If this preventive measure was not
done caries restoration 50.0$
per restoration.
 If restoration fails prostho
(crowns/bridges) higher cost
Levels of Prevention

Primary prevention

Secondary prevention

Tertiary prevention
Primary Prevention
Primordial Prevention
 Primordial Prevention

 Prevention of risk factors themselves,

beginning with change in social and
environmental conditions in which these
factors are observed to develop, and
continuing for high risk children, adolescents
and young adults(work on risk factor)
 Primary Prevention

 Specific protection includes immunization as

vaccination, Water fluoridation, topical fluoride
application, fissure sealants
‫ﺍﻟﻌﻣﻝ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻣﺭﺽ ﻗﺑﻝ ﺍﻧﺷﺎﺭﻩ‬
 Primary Prevention

 Covers the measures taken before

any disease appears
 Occurs in the prepathogenic
period
 Involves health promotion &
specific protection
 Primary Prevention

 Health promotion includes health

education, periodic selective examination
Secondary Prevention
 Secondary Prevention
 Involves early disease control (e.g
control of early dental caries-
restorations)
 Occurs in the early period of
pathogenesis
 Involves early diagnosis and prompt
treatment
 Periodic detailed oral examination with
X-rays
Tertiary Prevention
 Tertiary Prevention

 Involves later period in the pathogenesis

 Disease control including disability
limitation: prevention to the extent that
the squeal and complications of the
disease are minimized.
 Rehabilitation ‫ﺍﻋﺎﺩﺓ ﺗﺄﻫﻳﻝ‬
 E.g. Crown and bridge
World Health Organization
perspective for better oral
health;
 Prevalence of oral health diseases
(research)
 Provision of dental care (oral health
services)
 Oral health education & oral health
promotion (leading to change in
community behavior)
Health Education &
Promotion
 It is one of the corner stones preventive
medicine and its process involves:
Giving Knowledge
Changing Attitude
Altering Behavior
Knowledge Attitude Practice
WHO Guiding Principles

 Oral health is an essential part of human

function and the quality of life.
 Oral health status should be improved and
maintained in most economical manner
consistent with quality and access.
 Prevention is preferable to treatment as a
general rule.
WHO Guiding Principles
 Caries and periodontal diseases can be
prevented and controlled.
 Oral health care should be provided in
the context of comprehensive care
WHO Guiding Principles

 Planning
 Research, evaluation and education are
essential for continued advancement of
oral health.
 Learning must continue throughout the
career of the health professional.