Deck 23: Oral Health in Public Health Practice

Question 1

What are the two major trends currently working their way through the health system that will impact oral health and collaborative public health practice?

Answer 1

The two major trends are:
-The need to increase the capacity of health professionals prepared to work effectively as members of a team with interests of patients as the central focus
-The reform of the payment and delivery structures for health care

Question 2

What are the specific aims of the Oral Health Nursing Education and Practice (OHNEP) program?

Answer 2

The specific aims of OHNEP are to:
a. Engage national nursing stakeholders representing licensure, accreditation, certification, education, practice, and policy in advancing an action plan and recommendations that support oral health nursing education, practice, and policy changes.
b. Implement a strategy for integrating oral health into undergraduate and graduate nursing curricula.
c. Implement a strategy for integrating oral health "best practices" in registered nurse and advanced practice nurse clinical practice settings.

Question 3

How do low levels of fluoride act to prevent dental caries primarily by topical mechanisms after tooth eruption has occurred?

Answer 3

Low levels of fluoride act to prevent dental caries primarily by topical mechanisms after tooth eruption has occurred:
-By enhancing the remineralization of teeth
-By inhibiting the demineralization of teeth
-By inhibiting specific bacterial enzymes