Oral Health Literacy

AAPHD Dental Public Health Curriculum

The three- to four-hour course is designed to equip predoctoral dental students with foundational knowledge and applied skills in oral health literacy. Through interactive lectures, discussion, and case-based learning, students will explore how health literacy affects individual and community oral health outcomes, patient communication, and the delivery of equitable care. By the end of the course, students will be prepared to identify literacy-related barriers in clinical settings, use evidence-based communication strategies, and contribute to the development of health-literate organizations that promote patient empowerment and improved oral health outcomes.

Dental Public Health Competencies Addressed

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Define health literacy and oral health literacy as they relate to individual, community, and public health settings.
• Differentiate between levels of health literacy (basic, communicative, and critical) and describe their relevance to oral health.
• Identify the individual and population-level implications of low oral health literacy, including its impact on oral health outcomes and disparities.
• Explain the association between health beliefs, culture, and health literacy, and describe how cultural humility can enhance communication and care delivery.
• Recognize populations at risk for low health literacy based on demographic factors (e.g., age, race/ethnicity, language, education, socioeconomic status).
• Assess the impact of health literacy on oral health behaviors, such as dental hygiene practices, diet, and adherence to treatment recommendations.
• Apply best practices in patient-provider communication, including the use of plain language, teach-back methods, nonverbal cues, and motivational interviewing strategies.
• Describe the characteristics of a health literate organization.
• Identify and compare validated tools for measuring health literacy and evaluate their strengths and limitations.
• Reflect on personal and systemic roles in promoting oral health literacy and reducing communication barriers in dental practice.

Accessing the Course

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Course content includes a PowerPoint Presentation, Instructor Guide, and Syllabus.

Oral Health Literacy Course Content