Translator’s Introduction

1. This book is a translation of the first, second, and third sections of the book Essential Dental Public Health authored by Blanaid Daly, Richard G. Watt, Paul Batchelor, and Elizabeth T. Treasure, all of whom are prominent experts in the field of community dentistry. The comprehensiveness of this book, published by Oxford University Press in England, has made it a valuable resource in many dental schools around the world. The first three sections of this book contain fundamental and basic information regarding community dentistry and have been selected as a source for exam questions for dental residency entry examinations. Therefore, the translation of these sections and the publication of this as a separate book were deemed necessary. The current book not only assists candidates preparing for the residency exam but also serves as a useful resource for general dentistry students. More than four years have passed since the publication of the first edition, which translated the first and third sections of the original text. In this edition, previous sections have also been revised and edited to correct earlier mistakes and provide a smoother translation.

2. The relatively new specialty of oral health and social dentistry, or community dentistry, in Iran, despite being established for several decades in other countries, naturally results in lesser familiarity among the dental community with the specific terminology of this field. This issue, on one hand, highlights the need for translation and writing in this area, and on the other hand, makes it equally challenging to progress. Considering our experiences and expertise in this field, we have endeavored to provide a smooth translation to the best of our ability.

3. The contents of community dentistry textbooks closely align with the oral health service delivery system in the country of publication. The authors of Essential Dental Public Health have attempted to produce a book suitable for use by all countries. However, some terms used in this book are specific to the British service delivery system. The glossary provided helps the reader gain general information about some of these terms. This glossary includes definitions of commonly used terms in this book.

4. Efforts have been made to list the English equivalents of most specialized terms alongside them in the text. In a few instances where suitable Persian terms could not be found, the English term has been used. Additionally, words that have been added for the smoothness of the translation are placed in parentheses.

5. Although we have tried to make the book as error-free and complete as possible, our work is certainly not flawless. We welcome guidance and criticism from all esteemed readers.

Translation Team

Spring 1391 (2012)