NBDHE Community Oral Health Principles Flashcards

A public health dental hygienist is managing a new school-based oral health program. Midway through the program, the hygienist uses feedback from teachers and initial student screenings to adjust the implementation schedule and educational content. This type of evaluation is best described as:

Answer: Formative

Formative evaluation is conducted during a program's implementation to provide ongoing feedback that can be used to make adjustments and improvements. Summative, outcome, and impact evaluations are conducted at the end of a program to assess its overall effectiveness and results.

Which of the following community-based programs is the BEST example of primary prevention in oral health?

Answer: Community water fluoridation.

Primary prevention aims to prevent disease before it occurs. Community water fluoridation is a population-wide measure that prevents dental caries from developing. Screenings are secondary prevention (early detection), while providing fillings and dentures are examples of tertiary prevention (restoring function and limiting disability from existing disease).

A community oral health campaign creates posters that state, "Smoking can lead to oral cancer" and show images of the serious consequences of the disease. According to the Health Belief Model, this campaign is primarily targeting which two constructs?

Answer: Perceived Susceptibility and Perceived Severity

The Health Belief Model suggests that behavior change is influenced by certain beliefs. Emphasizing the risk of getting a disease targets 'Perceived Susceptibility,' while showing the serious consequences of the disease targets 'Perceived Severity.'

What is the MOST critical first step when a public health dental hygienist is tasked with developing a new oral health program for a specific target population?

Answer: Conducting a needs assessment.

A needs assessment is the essential first step in the program planning process. It involves systematically collecting data to identify the oral health status, needs, and resources of the target population. All other steps, such as developing goals, securing funding, and recruiting volunteers, should be based on the findings of this initial assessment.

A county health department report states that there were 250 new cases of periodontal disease diagnosed in adults over age 65 during the year 2025. This statistic represents the disease's:

Answer: Incidence

Incidence is the measure of the number of *new* cases of a disease that occur in a specific population over a specific period. Prevalence refers to the total number of existing cases (both new and old) at a point in time or over a period.

The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit, which ensures comprehensive dental services for eligible individuals under age 21, is a mandatory component of which federal program?

Answer: Medicaid

The EPSDT benefit is a key provision of Medicaid for enrollees under the age of 21. It requires states to provide a comprehensive set of health services, including necessary dental care, to prevent and treat health problems early. While CHIP also covers children's dental care, the EPSDT benefit with its specific requirements is a mandate under Medicaid.