CAR03-2001 Flashcards
What is oral epidemiology and what does it involve?
Study of the distribution of oral diseases in the population
Identification of determinants of oral conditions and risk factors at population level using clinical surveys and screenings
Why is oral epidemiology important?
Helps with population needs assessments to inform public health policies, planning, resource allocation
Identifies changing patterns in disease distribution and risk factors
Assesses impact of health promotion activities and healthcare policies
Who was John Snow (1855)?
London physician who postulated that cholera was spread by contaminated water supply
Who was Frederick McKay (1908)?
Observed the “Colorado Brown Stain” and found that aetiological agent for mottled agent was linked to water supply (F-)
What is Dean’s Fluorosis Index?
Show correlation between level of F- in water and severity of fluorosis in teeth
What did the Brantford-Sarnia-Stratford fluoridation study show?
Those with fluoridated water experienced lower incidence of caries
Artificial fluoridation sharply reduces caries levels
Who was Wade Hampton Frost (1937)?
Formed the Theory of General Susceptibility through observation of TB patients
What did the Black Report (1980) show?
Links between health inequality and economic inequality
What have been the main changes and patterns in dental caries epidemiology in the last 30-40 years?
Dramatic decline in prevalence and severity
Decreased caries incidence in children and adolescents
More common in least affluent and least educated
More common in Asian children in the UK
Lesions have become smaller and most are pit and fissure lesions
Describe the distribution of periodontal disease in the UK.
Higher in:
- males
- older people
- less educated
- poorer
- unskilled
- rural
- certain ethnic groups
What can cause traumatic dental injuries?
Failure to use protective gears
Extreme sport
Accident
Bullying
What factors is oral cancer associated with?
Low socioeconomic factors
Alcohol
Poor diet
Pollution
Genetics
Tobacco
What is the common risk factor approach?
Views risk factors as “common” for many diseases
Combatting common risk factors can have a massive effect on health
What is the theory of general susceptibility?
Specific population groups are more vulnerable to a broad array of diseases
Why are oral diseases often higher in those in the lower end of the socioeconomic gradient?
Lower end linked to behavioural risk taking
Most health-related behaviours are socially patterned and often cluster together
Social factors affect behaviour
