Dental Public Health courses are offered through the School of Public Health and cross-listed with the School of Dentistry.

DENT_ED595/EPID 595: Foundations of Dental Public Health: Introduction to Dental Public Health and Evidence-Based Dentistry
Offered Fall 2009 - syllabus
This course is an introduction to the discipline of Dental Public Health and Dentistry as a part of the health care delivery system for all graduate students regardless of their backgrounds. This course presents an introduction of social and historical context for dental public health. It also provides a basis for the more detailed aspects of the discipline which are covered in other dental public health courses. Details of topics include the epidemiology oral diseases, issue of oral health disparities, the connection between oral and systemic/general health, delivery and financing of dental care delivery, issues with access to care, determinants of utilization of dental care services, and various methods and public health programs in prevention of oral disease and promotion of oral health.

DENT_ED 620/EPID 610: Epidemiology and Prevention of Oral Diseases
Offered Fall 2009 - syllabus
This is a comprehensive course in the philosophy, principles, and methods of study in the epidemiology and prevention of oral diseases and conditions. Topics related to the epidemiology of oral diseases include measurement techniques, risk factor identification, and disease distribution in populations. The scientific basis for procedures and programs to prevent oral diseases is also examined, with emphasis on public health applications. Topics related to the prevention of oral diseases include water fluoridation, other fluoride programs, pit-and-fissure sealants, diet, nutrition, oral hygiene, chemotherapeutics, and screening programs.

DENT_ED 621/EPID 611: Administration in Dental Public Health
This course focuses on the planning, operation, and evaluation of dental public health programs, including quality assurance, budgeting, and legislative issues. Students prepare a research proposal/program development plan, and develop skills in oral presentations. Required for all students in dental public health.

DENT_ED 622/EPID 612: Collection and Analysis of Dental Data
This course is designed to provide students a practical knowledge and experience of data collection, data analysis, interpretation, and reporting of the results. The course will focus on analysis of oral health related measurements and the statistical analysis of dental data which are usually clustered because of the presence of multiple sites within a mouth. Analysis of complex health data (e.g., multiple and correlated data such as dental caries) and data from complex sample design will also be discussed. Particular attention is paid to the special problems presented by dental data in analysis and interpretation. Extensive use of microcomputers is required.

DENT_ED 623/EPID 613: Problems in Dental Public Health
Solutions to problems in dental public health can be pursued by students under the tutorial guidance of a faculty member. The problems can be in any aspect of research or administration. Students can also analyze data from existing research databases, and prepare reports intended for publication. Students meet regularly with the faculty supervisor to assess progress throughout the project. May be elected more than once.

DENT_ED624/EPID 614: Planning and Evaluating Field Experience in Dental Public Health
This is a field-experience/capstone course in dental public health. Individual arrangements and preparation for field experience are made with the guidance of the faculty advisor. Arrangements prior to the field experience include setting objectives; selecting the field site; appropriate reading assignments; and assessment of skills and knowledge needed. After the field placement, students submit a written evaluation of the experience to the faculty advisor, and prepare reports intended for publication. Students meet regularly with the faculty supervisor to assess progress throughout the project. May be elected more than once.

DENT_ED840/EPID840: Current Issues in Oral Epidemiology
This is a seminar/discussion course for the detailed examination of current knowledge, etiologies, risk factors, methods of measurement, data collection procedures, quality of existing data, and further research needs in the epidemiology of oral conditions. Required for doctoral students in oral epidemiology.

DENT_ED841/EPID841: Research in Dental Public Health
This course takes the format of a combination of lecture, seminar, and discussion to provide students with in-depth understanding of research designs and theoretical and scientific background of research in oral epidemiology. Focuses include: Identification of problems in dental public health and development of research strategies to address them. Various research designs and their application in dental services research, program evaluation, testing of treatment procedures, behavioral studies, and clinical trials, as well as epidemiology of oral conditions. Funding sources, political aspects of research, procedures for acquisition and management of research funds. Required for doctoral students in dental public health.