Geurink: Community Oral Health Practice for the Dental Hygienist, 3rd Edition

Chapter 01: People’s Health

Test Bank

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1.	Dental public health differs from the private practice of dentistry in that it:
a.	is funded by the government, but private practice is not.	
b.	is the form of dental practice that serves the community as the patient rather than the individual.	
c.	does not concern assessment of treatment needs as does private practice.	
d.	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.

REF:	p. 2

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 of the people?
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 lifestyle and behavior, the environment, human biology, and organizations of health programs and systems. The public pertains to the community, state, or nation. Public health is people’s health.

REF:	p. 2

3.	Public health problems must meet the criteria that they are a condition or situation that is a widespread actual or potential cause of morbidity or mortality and that:
a.	they have been proven a valid concern by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).	
b.	funding to treat or cure the condition is not available at the local or state level.	
c.	they do not qualify for treatment as an orphan drug.	
d.	there is an existing perception that the condition is a public health problem on the part of the public, the government, or public health authorities.	

ANS:	D
There must be an existing perception that the condition is a public health problem. The history of public health demonstrates that after the problem has been identified and knowledge and expertise have been developed to solve the problem, the community must unify to find social and political support to proceed with the public health solutions.

REF:	p. 3

4.	Which of the following is a public health problem rather than 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 all are 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.

REF:	p. 3

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.

REF:	p. 3

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 to be considered an effective solution to the problem of dental decay.

REF:	"p. 3, 4"

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.

REF:	p. 3

8.	About __% of adults have had tooth decay by the time they reach their early 40s.
a.	50	
b.	75	
c.	90	
d.	99	

ANS:	D
About 99% of adults have had tooth decay by the time they reach their early 40s. The extent and severity of dental caries warrant the need for treatment and prevention programs throughout the United States. Dental decay, if left untreated, continues to escalate and results in expensive surgical procedures. Therefore, it is important to focus on prevention of the disease.

REF:	p. 3

9.	___ % of adults older than 75 years of age have had root caries.
a.	20	
b.	40	
c.	60	
d.	80	

ANS:	C
Sixty percent of adults older than 75 years of age in the United States have had root caries.

REF:	p. 3

10.	Fluoridated drinking water has been proven to show ____________ in the amount 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 144 million people, and the results have shown a significant reduction in the amount of dental decay. Community water fluoridation is the perfect example of a dental public health solution to the problem of dental decay.

REF:	p. 4

11.	Dental professionals _________________ must work to educate the community and to provide the necessary programs to treat and prevent further disease.
a.	in public health	
b.	in private practice	
c.	both in public health and private practice	
d.	in neither public health nor private practice	

ANS:	C
Dental professionals, both those employed in the field of public health and those employed in private practice, must work together to educate the community and to provide the necessary programs to treat and prevent further disease.

REF:	p. 4

12.	Which public health component is equivalent to diagnosis in private practice?
a.	Survey	
b.	Analysis	
c.	Program planning	
d.	Program evaluation	

ANS:	B
Analysis is equivalent to diagnosis. The survey is equivalent to an examination, program planning is equivalent to treatment planning, and program evaluation is equivalent to patient evaluation.

REF:	p. 4

13.	The federal government’s role in participating in dental health-related activities falls under the jurisdiction of the:
a.	Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).	
b.	Department of the Interior (DOI).	
c.	Institute of Medicine (IOM).	
d.	Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD).	

ANS:	A
The federal government’s role in participating in dental health-related activities falls under the jurisdiction of the DHHS.

REF:	p. 5

14.	Which of the following organizations published Healthy People 2020?
a.	World Health Organization (WHO)	
b.	Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD)	
c.	Department of Human and Health Services (DHHS)	
d.	National Oral Health Surveillance System (NOHSS)	

ANS:	C
The DHHS published Healthy People 2020. It lists health objectives for the United States, including oral health, that need to be achieved by the year 2030.

REF:	p. 5

15.	The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is an operating agency under the:
a.	National Institutes of Health (NIH).	
b.	Public Health Service (PHS).	
c.	Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).	
d.	Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).	

ANS:	B
The CDC, HRSA, NIH, NIDCR, and AHRQ are all operating agencies under the Public Health Service (PHS). The PHS, in turn, is one of four major agencies within the Department of Human and Health Services (DHHS).

REF:	p. 5
16.	Fewer data have been collected to determine oral health needs in recent years because:
a.	needs have not changed since the early 1970s.	
b.	there has been a decline in funding at all levels.	
c.	all goals established in the year 2000 have been met.	
d.	societal stratification has made it difficult to gather useful information.	

ANS:	B
As a result of a decline in funding at all levels, there has been less public health involvement at the local level in recent years, and fewer data have been collected to determine needs.

REF:	p. 6

17.	According to the plan, the next version of Healthy People 2020 will be Healthy People:
a.	2021.	
b.	2023.	
c.	2025.	
d.	2030.	

ANS:	D
Healthy People 2020 reflects assessments of major risks to health and wellness, changing public health priorities, and emerging issues related to our nation’s health preparedness and prevention. Healthy People 2020 provides a framework to address risk factors and determinants of health and the diseases and disorders that affect our communities. Oral health is included with objectives and guidance for reaching the new 10-year targets. The next version will be Healthy People 2030.

REF:	p. 6

18.	What three core public health functions were identified in an Institute of Medicine (IOM) report in 1998?
a.	Determination, analysis, recapitulation	
b.	Assessment, policy development, assurance	
c.	Delineation, program development, analysis	
d.	Stratification, process, modification	

ANS:	B
The core public health functions of assessment, policy development, and assurance were identified in an IOM report in 1988. This report states that the core public health functions were developed to protect and promote health, wellness, and quality of life and to prevent disease, injury, disability, and death.

REF:	p. 7

19.	Which of the following was listed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as one of the 10 greatest public health accomplishments of the twentieth century?
a.	Reduction in edentulism of Americans older than 65 years of age from 25% to less than 5%	
b.	Fluoride in drinking water	
c.	Dental sealants to prevent decay in pits and fissures	
d.	Advances in the treatment of adult periodontitis	

ANS:	B
Fluoride in drinking water reaches 144 million people safely and is an inexpensive method of preventing tooth decay independently of a person’s socioeconomic status.

REF:	p. 10

20.	Dentists become recognized specialists in the field of dental public health through specialty certification with the American Board of Dental Health. In most states, dental hygienists have no required formal or specialty education.
a.	Both answers are true.	
b.	Both answers are false.	
c.	The first answer is true; the second answer is false.	
d.	The first answer is false; the second answer is true.	

ANS:	A
Both answers are true, although some dental hygienists have pursued advanced degrees in public health or community health.

REF:	p. 11

21.	Legislation approved in Arizona in 2004 permits children to receive preventive services offered by a dental hygienist __________________ by a licensed dentist.
a.	with direct supervision after examination	
b.	with direct supervision but without prior examination	
c.	without direct supervision after examination	
d.	without direct supervision or prior examination	

ANS:	D
In 2004, the Arizona legislature approved an affiliated relationship between dentists and dental hygienists. This new law provided an opportunity for children to receive preventive services offered by a dental hygienist without direct supervision or prior examination by a licensed dentist.

REF:	p. 11

22.	Which of the following credentials was approved by the American Dental Hygiene Association (ADHA) in 2004 to address the problem of access to oral health care?
a.	Dental Health Aide Therapist (DHAT)	
b.	Community Dental Health Coordinator (CDHC)	
c.	Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner (ADHP)	
d.	Advanced Dental Therapist (ADT)	

ANS:	C
The ADHA House of Delegates approved the creation of the ADHP in June 2004. This credential is designed to allow dental hygienists to provide diagnostic, restorative, and therapeutic services directly to the public. This credential is being developed to improve and enhance the oral health care delivery system.

REF:	p. 11