Course Outline: The preventive dentistry course introduces the students to the philosophy and methods of prevention of oral diseases that can be applied on an individual level and on a mass scale. The course emphasizes upon an understanding of the scientific basis of preventive measures and their rational use considering the patient’s and community need as well as relative effectiveness and efficacy of these measures. During the course the students learn and practice different techniques involved in the application of preventive agents used in dental practice and community dental care. Course Outcomes: By the end of this course, student should be able to: 1. Know about different levels of prevention. 2. Differentiate between population-based and high risk preventive strategies. 3. Explain the role of fluoride in dental health and describe various ways of administering fluoride. 4. Describe the importance of diet and nutrition in oral health. 5. Justify the use of fissure sealants and professionally applied topical fluorides in caries prevention. 6. Describe mechanical and chemical methods of plaque control. 7. Apply fissure sealants and professionally applied fluorides. 8. Demonstrate various techniques of tooth brushing and method of using fluoride mouth rinses in school children. 9. Describe the prevention of oral cancer and dental trauma. Educational Methods: 1. Didactic lectures Assessment of Students: 1. Continuous assessment. 2. Final examination. References: 1. Burt A.B, Eklund S.A: Dental Practice and the Community Dentistry. 6th Ed 2005, W. B. Saunders Company. 2. Harris N O, Franklin G G.: Primary Preventive Dentistry. 6th Ed 2003, Prentice Hall.