A landmark text, Primary Preventive Dentistry comprehensively presents the science and practice of preventive assessment and treatment modalities of preventive dental care. This seventh edition strives to enhance the readability of this book for dental hygiene and dental students. Moreover, the website has been enhanced to provide further opportunities for student study and case studies are available for student’s comprehension of total care. The book is sequenced in four units to further organize the material for reader understanding and comprehension. This is an excellent reference work for dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants.

Unit I- focuses on a comprehensive discussion on preventive dental concepts with an emphasis on the historical perspective and creation of prevention in health care today. The relationship between prevention, urgent and restorative care is presented to help dental providers understand all facets of dental care delivery. A thorough discussion of assessment, diagnostic and therapeutic sciences of dental care is addressed.

Unit II - focuses on oral disease etiology and contributing risk factors. This unit includes chapters of plaque, dental caries, periodontal disease, oral cancer, dental trauma and host mechanisms. The etiology of all diseases is comprehensively discussed so that students completely understand the disease before prevention is discussed.

Unit III - addresses preventive strategies to prevent these diseases/conditions and maintain health. These chapters include tooth brushing, dentifrices, toothpastes and mouthrinses, oral hygiene aids, fluorides, dental sealants, nutrition, mouthguards, tobacco cessation and health education and promotion theories.

Unit IV - includes chapters on target populations and public health approaches to preventing disease and maintaining health in these populations. These populations include infants, children, individuals with medical conditions and/or diseases, older adults and hospitalized individuals.

Norman O. Harris, DDS, MSD, FACD
Professor (Retired), Department of Community Dentistry
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Anotnio
San Antonio, Texas

Franklin Garcia-Godoy, DDS, MS, FICD
Editor, American Journal of Dentistry,
Professor and Associate Dean for Research,
Director, Clinical Research Center,
Director, Bioscience Research Center,
College of Dental Medicine
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, Florida