Prevention in Dentistry

At the end of this course, students should be able to: 1. define and discuss the concept of prevention in oral health, and its principles; 2. link the concept of prevention to other concepts in dental public health; 3. apply the principles of prevention on health states important to dentistry, including caries, periodontitis, oral cancer; and 4. discuss the prevention of hazards in a dental practice.

Levels and strategies of prevention. Prevention of caries (Role of dental plaque. Diet. Nutrition and personal oral health. Fluoride. Fissure sealing). Prevention of periodontal diseases (Methods of plaque control. Common risk approach). Prevention of oral cancer. Fluorosis. Hazards of practice (infection control, mercury and radiation protection).