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Guest lecture explores the overlooked role of oral health in public health

Students in the course Healing America: Tracing the Evolution of Healthcare Systems (HIST3580/HONR3007) gained new insight into the connections between oral health and overall well-being during a recent guest lecture by Dr. Tommy Johnson, State Dental Director for the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH).

As part of the Medical and Health Humanities initiative within Auburn University's College of Liberal Arts, the course's discussion emphasized how dental care extends far beyond routine checkups, playing a critical role in public health, disease prevention and health care policy.

“For too long, oral health has been treated as separate from general medicine, despite its undeniable impact on systemic health,” said Zachary W. Schulz, course instructor and public health historian. “Understanding how dental care fits within broader health care systems helps students grasp the full scope of health care disparities and policy challenges.”

Dr. Johnson highlighted Alabama’s efforts to improve oral health outcomes, noting the state’s significant progress in national rankings following the implementation of its first State Oral Health Plan. Students were particularly engaged by discussions on the long-standing divide between dental and medical care, the public health implications of water fluoridation and the importance of early intervention in preventing conditions such as oral cancer and pregnancy-related complications.

One of the most surprising takeaways for students was the link between dental care and maternal health. The “Count the Kicks” initiative, a program aimed at reducing stillbirths, was an unexpected yet powerful example of how dental offices can play a role in prenatal care.

“Many students hadn’t considered that a dentist can help promote maternal health in order to prevent premature births or that dentists might be the first to detect serious illnesses,” Schulz said. “This kind of interdisciplinary approach is exactly what Medical and Health Humanities aims to highlight—how historical, social and policy perspectives shape our understanding of health care.”

The discussion also reinforced the challenges of health care access, particularly in rural areas where entire counties lack a single dentist. The impact of public health campaigns, such as efforts to educate communities on the benefits of water fluoridation, resonated with students who reflected on the role of policy in shaping health outcomes.

“Bringing in public health professionals allows students to see history and policy in action,” Schulz said. “Understanding the barriers to health care—whether dental or medical—helps them think critically about solutions, both past and present.”

As part of the College of Liberal Arts' commitment to fostering interdisciplinary health care perspectives, the Medical and Health Humanities initiative continues to offer students opportunities to engage with pressing issues at the intersection of medicine, policy and public health.

For more information on Alabama’s Oral Health Office, visit ADPH Oral Health.

Tags: History Community, Outreach and Engagement