TEST BANK Community Oral Health Practice for the Dental
Hygienist, 5th Edition
Chapter 1: People’s Health: An Introduction
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following statements differentiates dental public health from the private practice
of dentistry?
a. Dental public health is funded by the government, but private practice is not.
b. Dental public health is the form of dental practice that serves the community as the
patient rather than the individual.
c. Dental public health does not concern assessment of treatment needs as does
private practice.
d. Dental public health is concerned solely with prevention rather than treatment of
disease.
ANS: B
Dental public health is the form of dental practice that serves the community as the patient
rather than the individual. It is concerned with the dental education of the public, with applied
dental research, and with the administration of group dental care programs, as well as
prevention and control of dental diseases on a community basis.
DIF: Comprehension REF: pp. 1-2 OBJ: 1
TOP: COMMUNITY HEALTH/RESEARCH PRINCIPLES 1.0 Promoting Health and Preventing
Disease within Groups
2. Which of the following terms refers to the effort that is organized by society to protect,
promote, and restore the health and quality of life?
a. Class structure
b. Population demographics
c. Social stratification
d. Public health
ANS: D
Both public health and community health refer to this societal effort. Public health is
concerned with prevention, health education, recommending policies, administering services,
conducting research, and limiting health disparities by promoting healthcare equity, quality,
and accessibility. Community health includes a wide range of healthcare interventions,
including health promotion, disease prevention, treatment, and management and
administration of care.
DIF: Recall REF: pp. 1-2 OBJ: 1
TOP: COMMUNITY HEALTH/RESEARCH PRINCIPLES 1.0 Promoting Health and Preventing
Disease within Groups
3. Each of the following is one of the guiding principles common criteria used to identify public
health problems EXCEPT one. Which one is the EXCEPTION?
a. Degree to which it negatively affects health equity.
b. Burden of the disease or condition.
c. Political will to address the issue.
d. Minimal cost to treat the problem.
, ANS: D
The “Guiding Principles Used to Identify Public Health Problems” includes: burden of the
disease or condition, prevalence of a risk factor for the disease or condition, ability of
affecting the population as a whole, seriousness of the problem, economic or social impact,
public health concern, political will to address the issue, availability of resources, requirement
for group action to solve the problem, availability of current interventions, cultural
appropriateness of the problem, and degree to which it negatively affects health equity.
DIF: Comprehension REF: pp. 2-3 OBJ: 3
TOP: COMMUNITY HEALTH/RESEARCH PRINCIPLES 2.0 Participating in Community
Programs, 2.1 Assessing Populations and Defining Objectives
4. Which of the following is a public health problem rather than a public health solution?
a. Immunizations
b. Fluoridation of drinking water
c. Chronic diseases of the expanding population of older adults
d. Seat belts and air bags
ANS: C
Diseases caused by pollution of the country’s air and water systems, chronic diseases of the
expanding population of older adults, inadequate funding for dental disease in indigent
children, and an increase in violence among youth of today are all viewed as public health
problems. Public health solutions are concerned with health promotion and disease
prevention. They address the problems of the community at large.
DIF: Comprehension REF: pp. 2-3 OBJ: 3
TOP: COMMUNITY HEALTH/RESEARCH PRINCIPLES 2.0 Participating in Community
Programs, 2.1 Assessing Populations and Defining Objectives
5. Which of the following represents one of the characteristics of public health solutions?
a. A long implementation period demonstrates conscientious planning.
b. Potency should be maintained for a short time in the event that problems require
retooling.
c. Socioeconomic status should limit distribution to those who can most easily carry
the cost burden.
d. They should be effective immediately upon application.
ANS: D
The seven characteristics of public health solutions are as follows: not hazardous to life or
function, effective in reducing or preventing the targeted disease or condition, easily and
efficiently implemented, potency maintained for a substantial time period, attainable
regardless of socioeconomic status, effective immediately upon application, and inexpensive
and within the means of the community.
DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 3 OBJ: 3
TOP: COMMUNITY HEALTH/RESEARCH PRINCIPLES 2.0 Participating in Community
Programs, 2.2 Designing, Implementing, and Evaluating Programs
6. Which of the following dental treatment modalities meets all seven characteristics of public
health solutions needed to be considered an effective treatment for dental decay?
a. Glass ionomer restorative material
, b. Stainless steel crown
c. Community water fluoridation
d. Dental amalgam
ANS: C
Community water fluoridation meets all the seven characteristics needed to be considered an
effective solution to the problem of dental decay.
DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 3 OBJ: 3
TOP: COMMUNITY HEALTH/RESEARCH PRINCIPLES 2.0 Participating in Community
Programs, 2.2 Designing, Implementing, and Evaluating Programs
7. Community water fluoridation:
a. reaches all people, regardless of socioeconomic status.
b. requires several years of application before positive effects can be measured.
c. proves to be more of a financial burden than restorative treatment.
d. only meets five of the seven characteristics considered to be an effective solution
to the problem of dental decay.
ANS: A
Community water fluoridation has proven to be a safe, cost-effective solution for reducing
dental decay in children. It reaches all people regardless of socioeconomic status. It is
effective immediately upon initiation and costs far less than the financial burden of restorative
treatment. It meets all the seven characteristics to be considered an effective solution to the
problem of dental decay.
DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 3 OBJ: 3
TOP: COMMUNITY HEALTH/RESEARCH PRINCIPLES 1.0 Promoting Health and Preventing
Disease within Groups
8. Which of the following best describes the prevalence of dental disease as a dental health
problem?
a. The highest rate of untreated caries is among adults aged 35 to 44
b. 80% of children aged 6-9 have experienced caries
c. 40% rate of untreated caries in permanent teeth of 13- to 15-year-olds
d. Universal
ANS: D
Dental diseases are universal, chronic problems that do not undergo remission if left
untreated. For American children ages 3 to 5 years, 29.7% have caries experience in primary
teeth, 14.1% have untreated caries in primary teeth. For American children ages 6-9, 51.7%
have had caries experience in primary or permanent teeth; 16.2% have untreated dental caries
in primary or permanent teeth. For American adolescents ages 13 to 15 years, 49.9% with
caries experience in permanent teeth, 17.9% with untreated caries in permanent teeth. For
American adults, 31.3% aged 35 to 44 with untreated caries, 72% aged 45 to 64 missing a
tooth from caries or periodontal disease. For older American adults, 19.1% aged 65 to 74 with
untreated coronal caries, 37.9% aged 75+ with untreated root caries, and 15.2% aged 65 to 74
completely edentulous.
DIF: Recall REF: p. 4|Table 1.2 OBJ: 4
TOP: COMMUNITY HEALTH/RESEARCH PRINCIPLES 2.0 Participating in Community
Programs, 2.1 Assessing Populations and Defining Objectives
, 9. Approximately ___ million people in the United States and ___ million people in Canada do not have
access to optimally fluoridated water.
a. 72: 22
b. 22: 72
c. 102: 72
d. 72: 102
ANS: A
About 72 million people in the U.S. and 22 million Canadians do not have access to optimally
fluoridated water.
DIF: Recall REF: p. 4 OBJ: 4
TOP: COMMUNITY HEALTH/RESEARCH PRINCIPLES 2.0 Participating in Community
Programs, 2.1 Assessing Populations and Defining Objectives
10. What impact has fluoridated drinking water had on the rate of dental decay?
a. Very little or no reduction
b. A slight reduction
c. A significant reduction
d. A slight increase
ANS: C
Organized community efforts have brought fluoridated drinking water to more than 210
million people in the U.S. and to 13.9 million in Canada, and the results have shown a
significant reduction in the amount of dental caries in both countries. Community water
fluoridation is the perfect example of a dental public health solution to the problem of dental
decay.
DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 4 OBJ: 4
TOP: COMMUNITY HEALTH/RESEARCH PRINCIPLES 2.0 Participating in Community
Programs, 2.2 Designing, Implementing, and Evaluating Programs
11. Which of the following components of a public health plan correlate to those in a private
practice setting?
a. Examination, analysis, treatment planning, appraisal
b. Survey, analysis, implementation, funding
c. Survey, diagnosis, implementation, patient evaluation
d. Diagnosis program planning, implementation, fee payment
ANS: B
The relationship between the components in the private practice sector of patient,
examination, diagnosis, treatment planning, fee payment, and patient education correlate to
community, assessment, analysis, program planning, program implementation, program
funding, and program evaluation in public health programs.
DIF: Comprehension REF: pp. 1-2|Table 1.1
OBJ: 2
TOP: COMMUNITY HEALTH/RESEARCH PRINCIPLES 2.0 Participating in Community
Programs, 2.2 Designing, Implementing, and Evaluating Programs
12. Which public health component is equivalent to diagnosis in private practice?
