Discussion

The American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD) developed eight competencies of a Dental Public Health to equip professionals to deal with the oral health at the population level. These skills are considered to be ethical reasoning, evidence-based practice, knowledge of health systems, program planning, surveillance, communication, leadership and advocacy. They were created so that the dental public health specialists would have the ability to address complex oral health issues that are beyond clinical care and emphasizes on prevention, equity and systemic solutions (Altman & Mascarenhas, 2016). These competencies put oral health into the context of more long-term public health objectives by focusing on population-focused approaches, so that professionals can be prepared to decrease the disparity, and achieve lasting changes in the health of the community,

Community oral health program development is necessary since it enables practitioners to create interventions that are able to accommodate the needs of many and not for single issues. Good programs recognize inequalities, distribute resources, and deploy culturally competent measures that enhance oral health outcomes among different groups of people (Altman & Mascarenhas, 2016). The process resembles the Dental Hygiene Process of Care whereby assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation are applied on individuals. These measures are community-based and are multiplied to the populations at the community level, which leads to the need to collaborate, integrate policies and make them sustainable in the long run. The two methods focus on evidence-based practice and assessment to make oral health improvement meaningful and measurable.

High quality community program development has got proper criteria: relevance to the

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community needs, evidence-based design, cultural competence, sustainability, measurable outcomes, and stakeholder participation. The importance of community partners is that they provide resources, local knowledge and support meaning that programs are culturally relevant and acceptable (Altman & Mascarenhas, 2016). In the AAPHD website, the continuing education course that attracts me is Oral Health and Health Equity in Public Health Practice since it combines social determinants of health with oral health, which fits the topic of interest in minimizing disparities. The Curriculum Course Materials is another helpful resource to educators and practitioners that is structured in providing syllabi and guides.

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References

Altman, D., & Mascarenhas, A. K. (2016). New competencies for the 21st century dental public health specialist. Journal of public health dentistry, 76, S18-S28.

American Association of Public Health Dentistry (AAPHD) (n.d). New & Updated – AAPHD Dental Public Health Curriculum