Hygiene Atlas

Atlas · Plate XIX · Community Health and Research · 01

Public health core functions

Public health runs on three core functions: assessment, policy development and assurance. Programs follow a cycle of needs assessment, SMART objectives, planning, implementation and evaluation, where formative evaluation checks the process and summative evaluation measures results. Prevention is primary (fluoride, sealants), secondary (screening, early restorations) or tertiary (dentures, implants).

High-yield facts · 8

  1. Public health core functions: assessment, policy development and assurance; they support the 10 essential public health services.S60
  2. Dental public health is one of the ADA-recognized dental specialties; it focuses on communities rather than individuals.T9
  3. The epidemiologic triangle: host, agent, environment.T9
  4. Healthy People 2030 sets national oral health objectives (e.g., reduce untreated caries, increase sealants, increase fluoridated water access).S60
  5. Program planning cycle: needs assessment, set goals and measurable objectives, plan, implement, evaluate.T9
  6. Objectives should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-bound.T9
  7. Formative (process) evaluation checks how the program is running; summative (outcome) evaluation measures results.T9
  8. Needs assessment data sources: surveys, indices (DMFT, CPI), existing records, focus groups, key informants.T9

Facts are written in our own words; each tag links to its source. Values marked "sources vary" differ between references, so check the one your program uses.