Community Oral Health Flashcards

Which federal program provides dental care coverage for children from low-income families in the United States?

Answer: CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program)

The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides low-cost health and dental coverage to children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid.

What is the optimal level of fluoride in community water supplies recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service?

Answer: 0.7 ppm

The U.S. Public Health Service recommends 0.7 parts per million (ppm) as the optimal fluoride concentration for community water fluoridation to reduce caries while preventing dental fluorosis.

Which oral health measure is considered the most cost-effective public health intervention for preventing dental caries on a population level?

Answer: Community water fluoridation

Community water fluoridation is universally recognized as the most cost-effective public health intervention for preventing dental caries, saving approximately $27 for every $1 invested.

The DMFT index is used in community oral health surveys. What does a DMFT score of 0 indicate?

Answer: No caries experience in the permanent dentition

A DMFT score of 0 means no teeth are decayed, missing due to caries, or filled, indicating no caries experience in the permanent dentition.

Which organization publishes Healthy People goals related to oral health in the United States?

Answer: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) publishes the Healthy People initiative, which includes measurable oral health objectives for the nation every 10 years.

Which disparity in oral health is consistently documented across US populations?

Answer: Greater untreated dental caries in low-income and racial/ethnic minority groups

Research consistently shows that low-income children, Black, Hispanic, and Native American populations experience higher rates of untreated dental caries due to barriers in access to care.