Outcome 3 - Dental Public Health Flashcards
What is Epidemiology?
Epidemiology is the study of how and why a health problem occurs in a population as well as how the health problem can be controlled or prevented. Data is collected and surveys conducted in order to identify risk factors. Understanding these risk factors and what causes them is used to determine policies and treatments provided by dental public health agencies.
The development of dental public health policies and programs follow these steps:
Observation >
Hypothesis >
Epidemiologic study or survey >
Statistics and data analysis >
Policy (treatment or prevention)
Dental Public Health Key Policy Indicators
Key policy indicators drive dental public health initiatives. They are derived from the statistical data collected during an epidemiological study or survey. This data is often reveiewed in terms of the occurrence of disease in a community or the incidence of disease within that community.
The occurence of disease may be measured in one of two ways:
Prevalence - the total number of cases existing in the population at any one time
Incidence - the number of new cases occuring in a given period of time
Because of the chronic nature of most dental diseases – prevalence rates which reflect both recent cases and the backlog due to neglect are much higher than incidence rates.
Prevalence vs. Incidence example
The data reveals that 72% of the surveyed children had dental caries present in their mouth (prevalence) to some degree over the two years that the study was conducted. During this time period, seven new cases were diagnosed each month in the public dental clinics (incidence).
What is the ultimate goal of dental public health?
The ultimate goal of dental public health is to make dental treatment and care accessible to all. Policy indicators play an important role in public health initiatives.
There are many public health programs offered through Alberta Health Services (AHS)
Example of few services for public are:
-Patient and families
-Continuing Care/Seniors
-Indigenous Health
Who is eligible for Community Oral Health?
-Infants, childrens, families, adults and seniors
-Targeted communities & groups
What does Community Oral Health cover?
Preventative service only
(Varies according to client/age group)
Who is eligible for Public Health Dental Clinics?
-Individuals and families with limited income that do not have a dental plan
-Eligibility based on income & family size
-Clients must apply
-Download application from website
What does Public Health Dental Clinics cover?
-Reduced fee dental care
-Emergency dental care involving extractions, and basic services (including checkups, cleanings, xrays, and fillings)
- Clinic does not operate like a private dental office and dones see dental emergencies
-Appointment times are an estimate and wait times may vary
Who is eligible for AB Children’s Hospital Dental Clinic?
-Children, infants and teens with medical, physical and/or mental health conditions
-Referral letter required and can be faxed
What is covered at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Dental Clinic?
-There is a fee for dental services provided
-The dental clinic will complete and submit insurance/benefit forms as required
-Linked to Cleft Palate and Craniofacial clinic
Who is eligible for Foothills Medical Centre Dental Clinic?
-People with medical, physical, and/or mental health conditions
-Referral required and can be faxed or mailed
What is covered at Foothills Medical Centre Dental Clinic?
There is a fee for dental services required
- the dental clinic will complete and submit insurance/benefit forms as required
Who is eligible for the Alex Dental Health Bus?
-Youth 6-24 years old
-Clients of the Youth Alex Health Centre
-Students at partnership school
What is covered at the Alex Dental Health Bus?
-Oral health screenings and referral for treatment
-Hygiene services - scaling, polish fluoride
-Dental sealants
Who is eligible for Alberta Works?
-People and their dependants who are receiving income support (social assistance)
What is covered at Alberta Works?
-People who cannot work are eligible for supplemental coverage (basic dental services and dentures)
-People who can work are eligible for standard coverage (limited to pain and oral infection relief and dentures)
-The health benefits card will indicate level of coverage (standard or supplemental dental)
-Show health benefit card to a dental provider
Who is eligible for Alberta Adult Health Benefit?
People who leave income support or AISH and have employment or Canada Pension Plan Disability program.
Pregnant women.
People with ongoing prescription drug needs.
Eligibility also based on income.
What is covered by Alberta Adult Health Benefit?
Basic services (extractions, fillings, etc.) and in some cases teeth cleaning.
See on-line policy manual for details on who has what coverage.
Client must show benefit card to dental provider
Who is eligible for Alberta Child Health Benefit?
Children under the age of 18 years(19 if attending high school) in low-income families.
Eligibility based on income and number of eligible children in the family.
Must apply. Call for an application or download from website
What is covered by Alberta Child Health Benefit?
-Free basic health benefits and routine dental services
-Show benefit card to a dental provider
Who is covered by AISH?
AISH clients and their dependents
What is covered by AISH?
-Routine dental services and dentures
-Show health benefit card to a dental provider
Who is eligible for Burns Memorial Fund?
Must be under the age of 21 and lived in Calgary for at least 6 months.
Children in low income situations with urgentor significant dental needs that are NOTcovered by ACHB or private insurance.
Application formand treatment plan needed
What is covered by Burns Memorial Fund?
Payment or cost-sharing for dental or orthodontic treatment.
Payments are not given for services already provided in a dental office before applying to the Burns Fund.
Will consider up to $2,000/family within a 3-year period
Who is eligible for CUPS (Calgary Urban Project Society)?
Friday Afternoons
Must be low income with no dental insurance. *Requires referral from CUPS nurse before extraction day
What is covered by CUPS?
Free extraction services ONLY, on a first come first serve basis.
Who is eligible for Cleft Palate Dental Idemnity Program?
Alberta residents, under the age of 25 years and covered under Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan.
Have a congenital cleft affecting the hard palate.
Registered at a Cleft Palate Clinic in Alberta
What is covered by Cleft Palate Dental Idemnity Program?
Funding for dental treatment directly related to the cleft site.
Must use all 3rdparty insurance coverage and all other government programs first
Who is eligible for Dental and Optical Assistance for Seniors Program?
Residents of Alberta who are 65 years of age and older (Canadian citizens or landed immigrants).
Eligibility based on income.
Must apply if not already enrolled in the Alberta Seniors Benefit Program or Optical Assistancefor Seniors Program. Call for an application or download from website
What is covered by the Dental and Optical Assistance for Seniors Program?
Coverage dependent upon annual income –maximum of $5,000 coverage for eligible procedures every 5 years.
Checkups, cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals and basic dentures.
Must pay for any amounts above the maximum amount covered by this program.
Advise the dental provider of coverage
Who is eligible for the Interim Federal Health Program?
Individuals covered under the Supplemental
Coverage–coverage length varies based on your eligible group
What is covered by the Interim Federal Health Program?
Emergency dental care
Contact dental provider or Alberta Health Services Public Health Dental Clinic
Who is eligible for Mosiac Primary Health Network?
Residents of Calgary living within the MPCN catchment area.
What is covered by the Mosiac Primary Health Network?
Free of charge: dental screenings and fluoride varnish for children age 1 to 5 years on the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile.
Check website for monthly schedule
Who is eligible for Non-Insured Health Benefits Program?
All registered First Nations and Inuit persons that are residents in Canada
What is covered by Non-Insured Health Benefits Program?
Routine services and comprehensive (with pre-approval) dental services.
Show status registry card to a dental provider.
Who is eligible for Smiles 4 Canada?
Low income youths before their 14thbirthday with orthodontic needs
See website for application form and program information
What is covered by Smiles 4 Canada?
Orthodontic services
