Population Health Principles

Course description 

This course introduces the dental public health principles, practices, and achievements at the population level. The oral health status and the needs of the US population across the lifespan, including underserved populations, are discussed.  Students are introduced to the US dental health care delivery systems and various factors influencing these systems.  An overview of the definition of health literacy, how health literacy and oral health literacy are measured, and the role of oral health literacy in promoting oral health and accessing dental care will be elaborated. The importance of cultural competency in providing culturally competent health promotion and disease prevention activities is highlighted. The role of interprofessional collaboration and practice in preventing disease and promoting health is discussed. Students will see the course contents' relevance in applying health promotion practices in real-world dental practice. The course has been added to the School’s predoctoral curriculum to prepare future graduates better to function in integrated multi-disciplinary health care settings under the School’s strategic plan. The course content is based on predoctoral dental public health competencies developed by national experts in public health and population health.

Additional information

Course Year: First

Course Number: PFD102
Quarter: Fall
Lecture Hours: 20
Section: Public and Population Health