Chapter 01
1. Which of the following best describes the prevalence of dental disease as a dental health problem? [Multiple
Choice]
a. Highest among older adults
b. 80% in children aged 2-11
c. Highest in 13- to 19-year-olds
d. Universal ✔
ANS: D
Dental diseases are universal, chronic problems that do not undergo remission if left untreated. For children aged
2-11, approximately 60% have had caries treated; 30% have untreated dental caries.
2. The federal government?s role in participating in dental health?related activities falls under the jurisdiction of
which of the following? [Multiple Choice]
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.
3. What percentage of adults experience some form of facial pain? [Multiple Choice]
a. 25% ✔
b. 40%
c. 60%
d. 80%
ANS: A
Almost 25% of adults experience some form of facial pain, and toothaches are the most common pain of the
mouth reported.
4. What three core public health functions were identified in an Institute of Medicine (IOM) report in 1998?
,[Multiple Choice]
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.
5. Which of the following is NOT being applied toward the goal of freeing communities from dental disease?
[Multiple Choice]
a. Knowledge
b. Resources ✔
c. Community awareness
d. Assessment and evaluation
ANS: B
The knowledge exists, but because of restraints and a lack of resources, this knowledge is not being applied
toward the goal of communities free from dental disease.
6. What impact has fluoridated drinking water had on the rate of dental decay? [Multiple Choice]
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 204 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.
7. Which of the following components in a public health plan correlate to those in a private practice setting?
[Multiple Choice]
,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, funding, and program evaluation in public health programs.
8. Stigma and complacency are among the most insidious opponents in fighting against which disease? [Multiple
Choice]
a. Rape
b. HIV ✔
c. Cardiovascular disease
d. Violence
ANS: B
In the fight against HIV, stigma and complacency are among our most insidious opponents. Rape is not a disease.
Nearly 800,000 people die in the United States each year from cardiovascular disease, accounting for one in three
deaths and more than $300 billion in direct medical costs and lost productivity, but this disease does not have the
stigma that HIV carries. Violence is not a disease.
9. Which of the following organizations published Healthy People 2020? [Multiple Choice]
a. World Health Organization (WHO)
b. Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD)
c. Department of Health and Human 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.
10. 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. [Multiple Choice]
, 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.
11. Fewer data have been collected to determine oral health needs in recent years because of which of the
following? [Multiple Choice]
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 the needs.
12. 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? [Multiple Choice]
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.
13. 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? [Multiple Choice]
a. Reduction in edentulism of Americans older than 65 years of age from 25% to less than 5%
1. Which of the following best describes the prevalence of dental disease as a dental health problem? [Multiple
Choice]
a. Highest among older adults
b. 80% in children aged 2-11
c. Highest in 13- to 19-year-olds
d. Universal ✔
ANS: D
Dental diseases are universal, chronic problems that do not undergo remission if left untreated. For children aged
2-11, approximately 60% have had caries treated; 30% have untreated dental caries.
2. The federal government?s role in participating in dental health?related activities falls under the jurisdiction of
which of the following? [Multiple Choice]
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.
3. What percentage of adults experience some form of facial pain? [Multiple Choice]
a. 25% ✔
b. 40%
c. 60%
d. 80%
ANS: A
Almost 25% of adults experience some form of facial pain, and toothaches are the most common pain of the
mouth reported.
4. What three core public health functions were identified in an Institute of Medicine (IOM) report in 1998?
,[Multiple Choice]
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.
5. Which of the following is NOT being applied toward the goal of freeing communities from dental disease?
[Multiple Choice]
a. Knowledge
b. Resources ✔
c. Community awareness
d. Assessment and evaluation
ANS: B
The knowledge exists, but because of restraints and a lack of resources, this knowledge is not being applied
toward the goal of communities free from dental disease.
6. What impact has fluoridated drinking water had on the rate of dental decay? [Multiple Choice]
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 204 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.
7. Which of the following components in a public health plan correlate to those in a private practice setting?
[Multiple Choice]
,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, funding, and program evaluation in public health programs.
8. Stigma and complacency are among the most insidious opponents in fighting against which disease? [Multiple
Choice]
a. Rape
b. HIV ✔
c. Cardiovascular disease
d. Violence
ANS: B
In the fight against HIV, stigma and complacency are among our most insidious opponents. Rape is not a disease.
Nearly 800,000 people die in the United States each year from cardiovascular disease, accounting for one in three
deaths and more than $300 billion in direct medical costs and lost productivity, but this disease does not have the
stigma that HIV carries. Violence is not a disease.
9. Which of the following organizations published Healthy People 2020? [Multiple Choice]
a. World Health Organization (WHO)
b. Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD)
c. Department of Health and Human 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.
10. 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. [Multiple Choice]
, 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.
11. Fewer data have been collected to determine oral health needs in recent years because of which of the
following? [Multiple Choice]
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 the needs.
12. 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? [Multiple Choice]
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.
13. 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? [Multiple Choice]
a. Reduction in edentulism of Americans older than 65 years of age from 25% to less than 5%
