title: Dental public health in India: An insight.
abstract: Oral diseases are a major public health problem, and their burden is on increase in many low- and middle-income countries. Dental public health (DPH) aims to improve the oral health of the population through preventive and curative services. However, its achievements in India are being questioned probably because of lack of proficiency and skill among DPH personnel. The literature search for the present study was conducted utilizing various search engines and electronic databases such as PubMed and MEDLINE. Documents related to the Central and State Governments of India were also considered. Finally, 26 articles were selected for the present study from which relevant information can be extracted. The present study focuses on some of the important aspects relating to DPH in India such as priority for oral health, DPH workforce and curriculum, utilization of DPH personnel in providing primary oral health care, role of mobile dental vans, and research in DPH. It was concluded that more attention should be given toward preventive oral health care by employing more number of public health dentists in public sector, strengthening DPH education and research, and combining oral health programs with general health-care programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Rayat and Bahra Dental College and Hospital, Mohali, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Ramandeep Singh
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Gambhir
authors.affiliation: Private Practitioner, Amloh, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Amanpreet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Pacific Dental College and Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Arshdeep
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Gian Sagar Dental College and Hospital, Ramnagar, Rajpura, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Anmol Rattan Singh
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sandhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Gian Sagar Dental College and Hospital, Ramnagar, Rajpura, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Angad Prakash Singh
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Dhaliwal
keywords: Dental public health; dental tourism; mobile dentistry; primary care; research