MJDF Dental Public Health

Question 1

What is the recommended fluoride concentration in water fluoridation schemes in the UK, and what is the evidence for its effectiveness?

Accepted Answer

1 part per million (1 mg/L) — systematic reviews show it reduces dental caries prevalence by approximately 26-35% in permanent teeth and 40-49% in primary teeth, with the greatest benefit for children in deprived areas

Answer

5 ppm — evidence is inconclusive

Answer

0.1 ppm — it prevents fluorosis only

Answer

10 ppm — it eliminates all caries in the population

Question 2

What does the term 'inverse care law' mean in the context of dental public health?

Accepted Answer

It states that the availability of good medical or dental care tends to vary inversely with the need of the population served — those with the greatest need have the least access to care

Answer

It means that wealthier patients receive less dental care than poorer patients

Answer

It means that dental professionals prefer to work in deprived areas

Answer

It describes the relationship between sugar consumption and fluoride use

Question 3

In epidemiological studies of dental caries, what does the DMFT index measure and what are its limitations?

Accepted Answer

DMFT measures the sum of Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth in the permanent dentition; limitations include not recording severity of each lesion, not distinguishing reasons for tooth loss, being cumulative and irreversible, and not capturing initial (enamel-only) caries lesions

Answer

It measures gum disease severity and has no limitations

Answer

It measures the number of dental visits per year

Answer

DMFT measures only the number of fillings a patient has

Question 4

What are the current 'Delivering Better Oral Health' (DBOH) guidelines regarding sugar consumption and caries prevention?

Accepted Answer

Free sugars should be limited to less than 5% of total energy intake (approximately 30g/day for adults); sugar-containing foods and drinks should be restricted to mealtimes only; and sugary snacks between meals should be replaced with non-cariogenic alternatives

Answer

Sugar has no relationship to dental caries

Answer

Sugar intake is only relevant for children under 5

Answer

Any amount of sugar is acceptable if teeth are brushed afterwards

Question 5

What is the difference between 'population strategy' and 'high-risk strategy' in preventive dental public health, and which is more effective for reducing oral health inequalities?

Accepted Answer

Population strategy targets the entire population (e.g., water fluoridation, sugar taxation) to shift the whole risk distribution; high-risk strategy identifies and targets individuals at elevated risk (e.g., fluoride varnish programmes for high-caries children). Population strategies are more effective for reducing inequalities as they do not depend on individual behaviour change or access to services

Answer

They are identical approaches with different names

Answer

High-risk strategy is always more effective because it targets resources efficiently

Answer

Population strategy only applies to infectious diseases, not dental caries

Question 6

According to NICE guidelines, what are the recommended intervals between dental recall examinations for adults and children?

Accepted Answer

For adults, the interval should be personalised between 3 and 24 months based on caries risk, periodontal status, and other factors; for children and young people under 18, the interval should be between 3 and 12 months

Answer

Every 6 months for all patients regardless of risk

Answer

Annual examinations for all patients without exception

Answer

Dental examinations are only needed when patients have symptoms