Non-clinical Oral Health Practice Specialities

Abstract

Dental public health and forensic dentistry are two key non-clinical dental specialties, described in this chapter. Dental public health is defined as the use of public health tools and skills for the prevention and control of oral disease, and the promotion of oral health, at the community level. Many dental health profession students do not consider the specialty of public health. Graduating oral health profession students are often unaware of the scope of this speciality, which can include working as oral health epidemiologists, health promotion/health educational experts, dental educators, planners or managers of health services. Dental public health specialists may work in universities, public health care provider organisations, health insurance and private health care organisations, as well as international organisations such as the World Health Organization. The primary role of a forensic dentist is to identify human remains, particularly following mass disasters, such as bushfires and tsunamis, or mass killings. However, this specialty has broadened considerably in recent times to include assessment of orofacial trauma and injuries inflicted by dentition, as well as forensic investigation of dental records. This work is highly intellectually challenging but can involve the stress of working in difficult settings and with disturbing subject matter.