Learning About Your Oral Health

The Basic Guide to Oral Health Education and Promotion is the step by step course companion for dental nurses studying for the Certificate in Oral Health Education. In addition it is an invaluable resource for other members of the dental team and health professionals involved in educating and promoting oral health to patients and the wider general public. Each chapter looks at a different aspect of oral health education and promotion in line with the NEBDN syllabus, yet is written in logical sequence for the benefit of those not studying the exam and those in professions other than dental nursing. Topics covered include dental structures, anatomy and physiology, oral diseases and prevention, the principles of education, oral health and society, promoting oral health in the 21st century, patient communication, project planning and workplace assignments.

The first edition of this classic text appeared in 1976 with the aim of refining and standardising the advice given to the public and to ensure that such advice was scientifically sound and evidence-based. It was written not only for members of the dental professions and those involved in general healthcare including medical practitioners, school nurses, health visitors, midwives, dieticians, pharmacists and public health practitioners, but also those who influence health in the wider community, such as teachers, child carers and peer educators. While originally written for a UK readership it became clear that it was used in other countries and that a new international edition was needed. To ensure that this new edition would reflect a consensus of international expert opinion and be relevant to a much broader readership, a panel of eminent experts was enlisted from as far afield as Japan, Singapore, Denmark, Switzerland and the USA. The text is consistent with current evidence and guidance from the WHO, and includes comparative guidance from other countries and systematic reviews of research evidence from the Cochrane Collaboration database. It provides information and advice on the main aspects of oral health, including the cause and prevention of dental caries, periodontal disease, dental erosion, oral cancer and dental problems in children under five, and older people. Throughout the book, key points are given at the beginning of each chapter, with an indication of the strength of supporting scientific evidence using a simple scheme.

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) Roundtable on Health Literacy focuses on bringing together leaders from the federal government, foundations, health plans, associations, and private companies to address challenges facing health literacy practice and research and to identify approaches to promote health literacy in both the public and private sectors. The roundtable serves to educate the public, press, and policy makers regarding the issues of health literacy, sponsoring workshops to discuss approaches to resolve health literacy challenges. It also builds partnerships to move the field of health literacy forward by translating research findings into practical strategies for implementation. The Roundtable held a workshop March 29, 2012, to explore the field of oral health literacy. The workshop was organized by an independent planning committee in accordance with the procedures of the National Academy of Sciences. The planning group was composed of Sharon Barrett, Benard P. Dreyer, Alice M. Horowitz, Clarence Pearson, and Rima Rudd. The role of the workshop planning committee was limited to planning the workshop. Unlike a consensus committee report, a workshop summary may not contain conclusions and recommendations, except as expressed by and attributed to individual presenters and participants. Therefore, the summary has been prepared by the workshop rapporteur as a factual summary of what occurred at the workshop.

“Dental disease is the most widespread public health problem among the school-age population in the United States today,” states the author of this first-of-its-kind book to combine dental health information and lesson plans for K-6 teachers, hygienists, and school nurses. Loaded with valuable information, the up-to-date workbook addresses the role of the dental health educator in getting children to learn how to properly take care of their teeth. Reader friendly, it offers simple ways to achieve excellence in oral hygiene beyond trips to the dentist, along with the rationale for proven modern techniques. Educators will welcome Lori Gagliardi’s complete lesson plans, visual aids, supplemental material, and tips on integrating dental health into academic curricula. It is also an essential companion for any comprehensive dental disease prevention program in the community. Outstanding features: • Engaging visual aids enhance the lesson plans. • Background information and objectives accompany lesson plans. • Guided practice activities reinforce the subjects covered. • Includes a section targeting children with exceptional needs. • Lesson plans, including time frames, focus on specific information. New to the Third Edition: • Improved organization. • National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy. • USDA MyPlate healthy eating tool. • Updated information regarding reading labels and serving sizes. • New chapter, Community Education Program Development. • Updated appendix material.