Aim

To give students an understanding of the principles and the philosophy of Community Dentistry and its application for the promotion of the oral health of the population.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the 5th semester students should be able to:

• Understand the concept and the principles of Public Health and Community Dentistry.
• Describe the trends in the epidemiology of oral diseases in Greece and globally.
• Comprehend the basic principles of primary health care and oral health promotion.

Contents

Introduction to Public Health and Community Dentistry. The concept of health and disease. Health inequalities. Primary  health care. Health promotion. Methods for recording and evaluating oral diseases. Trends in the epidemiology of oral diseases. Communication. Health behavior change. Health education. Public health programmes for the prevention of caries. Strategies for the promotion of healthy diets. Health care systems. Health economics. Human resources in the health care sector-Dentistry. Dental auxiliaries.   

Educational Methods

• Lectures.
• Intra-Extra mural activities.  
• Teaching through e-class.

Criteria for successful completion

• Final written exams.