Community DH Case Studies
1. CASE STUDY 1:You have been hired recently by the state health department as a community consultant for
older adults in the state. There is a concern that this population may not be receiving necessary information
regarding root caries and tooth loss. The state dental director has asked you to conduct an assessment to evaluate
the extent of the problem and identify the potential initiatives to address the problem.
1.1 As one strategy, you conduct a statewide oral health survey of older adults to assess their knowledge of and
access to information about root caries and tooth loss. This step is the dental public health equivalent to which of
the following components of the process of care in clinical practice?
a. Treatment plan
b. Patient evaluation
c. Examination
d. Dental hygiene diagnosis: c. Examination
The community survey parallels the patient examination as a means of assessing the situation or problem.
Program planning is the dental public health equivalent of treatment planning in clinical practice, program evaluation or
appraisal parallels patient evaluation, and analysis is comparable to diagnosis.
2. 1.2 All of the following EXCEPT one has contributed to the identification of root caries and tooth loss as a
public health problem in this priority population. Which is the EXCEPTION?
a. Effectiveness of fluoride in controlling root caries
b. Personal opinion of the director of the state health department
c. Oral health surveillance data for the population
d. A low rate of fluoridated community water supplies in the state: b. Personal opinion of the director of the state
health department
3. 1.3 Your assignment in this position relates to all of the following EXCEPT one. Which is the EXCEPTION?
a. Dental public health
, Community DH Case Studies
b. Collaboration
c. Population health
d. Policy development: d. Policy development
, Community DH Case Studies
The assignment described in the case is to conduct an assessment to evaluate the extent of the problem and to identify
potential initiatives to address the problem.
Although policy development may be required later as a response to the results of the assessment, the current assignment
does not involve policy development.
4. 1.4 As you fulfill your responsibilities, you form relationships with other health professionals to work together
in the process of gaining background information on root caries, tooth loss, and other oral health issues, exploring
their relationship to overall health and medical conditions in this population, and identifying potential program
initiatives that will address oral health in relation to overall health. This is an example of which of the following
concepts that has been proposed for future population health efforts?
a. Interprofessional education (IPE)
b. Interprofessional collaborative practice (ICP)
c. Essential public health services
d. Implementation of the 2010 Affordable Care Act: b. Interprofessional collabo- rative practice (ICP)
ICP is the collaboration of various health professionals in the comprehensive health care of individuals and populations.
5. 1.5 A health marketing campaign is identified as a potential initiative to dis- seminate information on oral
health diseases and conditions and the oral-sys- temic link to health professionals, social service professionals, and
commu- nity workers who serve older adults in the community through community senior centers, long-term care
facilities, local health departments, hospitals, and other relevant community and public health agencies and
organizations. Which essential public health service to promote oral health is illustrated by this initiative?
a. Build and maintain a strong organizational infrastructure for public health
b. Strengthen, support, and mobilize communities and partnerships to im- prove health
c. Build and support a diverse and skilled public health workforce
d. Assure an adequate and competent public and private oral health work- force: c. Build and support a
diverse and skilled public health workforce
6. 1.6 Which agency would be the primary resource for information about the priority population being targeted
by your assignment?
, Community DH Case Studies
a. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
b. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
1. CASE STUDY 1:You have been hired recently by the state health department as a community consultant for
older adults in the state. There is a concern that this population may not be receiving necessary information
regarding root caries and tooth loss. The state dental director has asked you to conduct an assessment to evaluate
the extent of the problem and identify the potential initiatives to address the problem.
1.1 As one strategy, you conduct a statewide oral health survey of older adults to assess their knowledge of and
access to information about root caries and tooth loss. This step is the dental public health equivalent to which of
the following components of the process of care in clinical practice?
a. Treatment plan
b. Patient evaluation
c. Examination
d. Dental hygiene diagnosis: c. Examination
The community survey parallels the patient examination as a means of assessing the situation or problem.
Program planning is the dental public health equivalent of treatment planning in clinical practice, program evaluation or
appraisal parallels patient evaluation, and analysis is comparable to diagnosis.
2. 1.2 All of the following EXCEPT one has contributed to the identification of root caries and tooth loss as a
public health problem in this priority population. Which is the EXCEPTION?
a. Effectiveness of fluoride in controlling root caries
b. Personal opinion of the director of the state health department
c. Oral health surveillance data for the population
d. A low rate of fluoridated community water supplies in the state: b. Personal opinion of the director of the state
health department
3. 1.3 Your assignment in this position relates to all of the following EXCEPT one. Which is the EXCEPTION?
a. Dental public health
, Community DH Case Studies
b. Collaboration
c. Population health
d. Policy development: d. Policy development
, Community DH Case Studies
The assignment described in the case is to conduct an assessment to evaluate the extent of the problem and to identify
potential initiatives to address the problem.
Although policy development may be required later as a response to the results of the assessment, the current assignment
does not involve policy development.
4. 1.4 As you fulfill your responsibilities, you form relationships with other health professionals to work together
in the process of gaining background information on root caries, tooth loss, and other oral health issues, exploring
their relationship to overall health and medical conditions in this population, and identifying potential program
initiatives that will address oral health in relation to overall health. This is an example of which of the following
concepts that has been proposed for future population health efforts?
a. Interprofessional education (IPE)
b. Interprofessional collaborative practice (ICP)
c. Essential public health services
d. Implementation of the 2010 Affordable Care Act: b. Interprofessional collabo- rative practice (ICP)
ICP is the collaboration of various health professionals in the comprehensive health care of individuals and populations.
5. 1.5 A health marketing campaign is identified as a potential initiative to dis- seminate information on oral
health diseases and conditions and the oral-sys- temic link to health professionals, social service professionals, and
commu- nity workers who serve older adults in the community through community senior centers, long-term care
facilities, local health departments, hospitals, and other relevant community and public health agencies and
organizations. Which essential public health service to promote oral health is illustrated by this initiative?
a. Build and maintain a strong organizational infrastructure for public health
b. Strengthen, support, and mobilize communities and partnerships to im- prove health
c. Build and support a diverse and skilled public health workforce
d. Assure an adequate and competent public and private oral health work- force: c. Build and support a
diverse and skilled public health workforce
6. 1.6 Which agency would be the primary resource for information about the priority population being targeted
by your assignment?
, Community DH Case Studies
a. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
b. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
