Oral Health | Clinical and Risk Asessment | Principles of prevention

Principles of prevention
Session overview
Description
This session provides a framework that underpins the approach to preventative measures. It outlines the issues that need to be considered when determining how best to provide effective and efficient care.

Learning objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• list the factors to consider prior to the implementation of a preventative strategy
• state the questions to consider when formulating an approach to preventative measures
• explain the importance of the natural history of the disease
• describe the relationship between prevention and treatment

Prerequisites
Before commencing this session you should:

• be familiar with the patterns of disease material
• have completed the Use of fluorides session
• have completed the Fissure sealing – when and where session

'Prevention can be better than cure' is an age old saying that resonates with common sense. If this could be applied to the prevention of disease, one might assume that we would have a far healthier population.

The prevention of disease in clinical terms, however, is a complex matter. There are factors for and against preventative measures which need careful weighing up in terms of available resources and the potential success of action taken. Prevention is costly and there may be circumstances under which treatment is a preferable option.

Before implementing a preventative strategy, the natural history of a disease and its prevalence should be known.

This session will outline the principles and factors for consideration when identifying a preventative approach.