El papel del cirujano dentista de práctica privada en la salud pública

Abstract

A private dentsit can help to improve the state of health of his community by being active in the following three areas:

1) In private practice, where his main activities consist of: a) preventive measures, chiefly the topical application of fluoride solution; b) health education with a view to discouraging excessive sugar intake, teaching correct brushing of the teeth, and recommending frequent periodic visits to the dentist; c) improved dental care among children; d) increased performance in his work through adequate use of auxiliary personnel; e) utilization of the most advanced techniques; and f) early diagnosis of general diseases with oral sympstoms, especially of cancer

2) In the dental association, where the following activities would be most important to public health: a) training of professional and auxiliary personnel; b) promotion of water fluoridation; c) dental health education of the public; and d) organization of (dental) services to be paid by third parties or on the installment plan

3) At dental schools, where the dentist could promote the following: a) an increase in the number of dental schools in the country; b) an increase in the number of students per school and of school resources and the prevention of dropout; and c) inclusion in dental school curricula of preventive and public health dentistry

It is not only our duty as public health workers to utilize every ...(AU)