Module 1
Introduction to Hospital
Dentistry
Introduction
Hospital Dentistry is an area of dentistry where medicine is
integrated with dentistry.
A comprehensive dental care is given on patients with medical
conditions, psychiatric disorders, or physical limitations
Objectives:
✓Define different terminologies related to Hospital Dentistry.
✓State the philosophy, mission and functions of a hospital.
✓Discuss the importance of hospital system to primary health care.
Definition of a Hospital
The term Hospital was derived from the word ‘hospes’ which means
“host”, “guest”, or “stranger”.
Hospital is defined as a charitable institution for the needy, aged,
infirm, or young, also an institution where the sick or injured are
given medical or surgical care.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hospital (Links to an external site.)
Definition of a Hospital
• Hospital, an institution that is built, staffed, and equipped for
the diagnosis of disease ; for the treatment both medical and
surgical, of the sick and the injured; and for their housing during
this process.
• The modern hospital also often serves as a center for
investigation and for teaching.
• https://www.britannica.com/science/hospital (Links to an external site.)
Characteristics of a Hospital
1. A charitable institution for the
housing & maintenance of the
needy, infirm or aged;
2. A charitable institution for the
maintenance & education of the
young
3. A place for rest, lodging &
entertainment
4. A university hall,
interchangeable w/ a hostel
5. An institution for the care of the
sick & wounded or those needing
medical treatment.
Mission of the hospital
THE HOSPITAL MISSION (PRIMARY
FUNCTION)
• To care for the sick and the injured
• To be a provider of complete health care
• To be a charitable institution
1.
Restorative
2.
BASIC Preventive
FUNCTIONS OF 3.
A HOSPITAL Educational
4.
Research
1.
BASIC FUNCTIONS OF A HOSPITAL
Restorative
1.RESTORATIVE - most important; it is
the reason for the existence of the hospital
a. For diagnosing as an in or out-patient
b. Tx of disease (curative, palliative)
c. Rehabilitation ( physical,mental,social)
d. Emergency care (accident & disease)
BASIC FUNCTIONS OF A HOSPITAL
2. PREVENTIVE -
• a. Supervision of normal pregnancy & childbirth
• b. Supervision of growth & dev’t. of child &
adolescent
• c. Control of communicable disease
• d. Prevention of prolonged illnesses
2.
Preventive • e. Prevention of invalidism (mental & physical)
• f. Health education
• g. occupational health
BASIC FUNCTIONS OF A HOSPITAL
3.EDUCATIONAL – gives training to:
• a. Medical undergraduates
• b. Post-graduates
• c. Nurses & midwives
• d. Medical social workers
• e. Other allied professionals
3.
Educational
BASIC FUNCTIONS OF A HOSPITAL
4.RESEARCH
• a. Physical, psychological & social aspects of
health disease
• b. Hospital practices (technical &
administrative)
4. Research
Hospital System and Primary Health Care
Hospital System and Primary Health Care
Primary health care (PHC) addresses the majority of a person’s health
needs throughout their lifetime. This includes physical, mental and social
well-being and it is people-centered rather than disease-centered.
PHC is a whole-of-society approach that includes health promotion, disease
prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care.
A primary health care approach includes three components:
1. Meeting people’s health needs throughout their lives
2. Addressing the broader determinants of health through
multisectoral policy and action
3. Empowering individuals, families and communities to take
charge of their own health.
https://www.who.int/health-topics/primary-health-care#tab=tab_1 (Links to an external site.)
A Primary healthcare service may include:
1. Diagnosis and treatment of common health conditions within their area
of expertise
2. Assessment of the urgency of medical problems and direct the patient to
the best place for that care.
Primary healthcare practitioner- those who provides comprehensive and
ongoing general medical care, (Ex. dentist, counsellor, dietitian, osteopath or
physiotherapist)
➢Diagnosis, treatment and care
of people with health problems
➢Promoting good health
Primary healthcare ➢Preventing health problems
services ➢Early intervention
➢Managing ongoing and long-
term conditions.
• HOSPITAL- part of the health care delivery system; in itself is
a SYSTEM which consists of:
• Inputs- human & non-human resources
• Processes- managerial decision-making, division of work,
standard operating procedures
• Outputs- patient satisfaction, discharges, patient compliance,
etc.
• https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ServicesAndSupport/primary-healthcare-explained
Definition of Hospital Dentistry
• HOSPITAL DENTISTRY IS…
• It is part of the complete health care program of the hospital;
• It should be preventive-oriented;
• It should function in close alliance with other health specialty areas
(Team Management Concept)
• It is part of the community practice of Dentistry
Hospital Dentistry deals with:
➢dental management of patients with special needs, whether
medically compromised or with severe disabilities
➢is sometimes complex and requires a multidisciplinary and
integral approach
The hospital setting allows dental practice to interrelate with
other clinical and surgical specialties and offers the support of
central or core services that can facilitate diagnosis and
treatment.
Hospital Dental Surgery department should carry out integral activities such
as:
➢ diagnosis and treatment of :
- oral mucosal lesions
- orofacial pain and of temporomandibular joint disease
- medically compromised
➢oral surgery
➢use of diagnostic and management protocols in patients programmed for
organ transplantation
➢ integral dental care of patients with severe disabilities using general
anesthesia.
• REFERENCES
• https://www.britannica.com/science/hospital (Links to an external
site.)
• https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ServicesAndSupport/prim
ary-healthcare-explained (Links to an external site.)
• https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hospital (Links to an
external site.)
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4015050/ (Links to an
external site.)
• https://www.dentistry.ucla.edu/about-us/section-hospital-
dentistry (Links to an external site.)
• https://www.who.int/health-topics/primary-health-care#tab=tab_1
