Dental public health – principles and practice

With origins in the early 20th century and closely allied to community-based dentistry, local authorities, education and generic public health, dental public health is a recognised clinical dental specialty that deals with prevention of oral disease and facilitates the adoption of effective and efficient dental care and interfaces with institutions and agencies outside the health sector. This manuscript describes the components of dental public health, the public health workforce, the challenges currently faced and the opportunities ahead.