What is Dental Public Health in Canada?
Dental Public Health is the science and art of preventing and controlling dental diseases and promoting oral health through organized community efforts. It is that form of dental practice that serves the community as a client rather than the individual. It is concerned with dental health education of the public, with applied dental research, and with the administration of group dental care plans, as well as the prevention and control of dental diseases on a community basis.
CAPHD encourages dental public health professionals to adopt the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Core Competencies for Public Health in Canada and the Dental Public Health Discipline Specific Competencies. These set a standard for dental public health in Canada, provide a foundation for enhanced education and professional development and will ultimately strengthen the public health capacity in Canada. They guide the work of wide range of professionals involved in dental public health in Canada, including dentists, dental public health specialists, university professors, dental hygienists, dental therapists, dental assistants, denturists, public health administrators, researchers, college educators, undergraduate students, graduate students, professional associations, health professionals, public health workers, etc.
What is Dental Public Health Specialty for dentists in Canada?
Dental Public Health is a recognized specialty for dentists in Canada. CAPHD represents Public Health Dentists through the Canadian Dental Specialties Association, which is an affiliate of the Canadian Dental Association.
Dentists who completed a specialty program recognized by the CDAC must successfully complete the National Dental Specialty Examination (NDSE) before being eligible for registration as a dental public health specialist in Canadian jurisdictions.
Dental Public Health is also one of the nine nationally recognized dental specialties withing the Royal College of Dentists of Canada (RCDC). RCDC administers a high-caliber examination that is a requirement to gain Fellowship within the College and permitted qualified dental specialists to use the designation of FRCD(C). The designation recognizes excellence, experience and competence in the practice of Dental Public Health and is the highest professional achievement for a public health dentist in Canada. Fellows are currently working throughout Canada and internationally in health agencies, dental faculties, governments, and administrative and clinical practices. The College highly values its relationship with the CAPHD as the national dental specialty association of Dental Public Health in Canada.