Final answer:
The field of health concerned with the prevention of dental disease and the promotion of dental health in the community is community dental health or public health dentistry, which includes community water fluoridation, regular dental cleanings, good hygiene practices, and addressing health disparities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The specialty concerned with prevention of dental disease and promotion of better dental health in the community is called community dental health or public health dentistry. This field focuses on strategies like community water fluoridation, which is the adjustment of fluoride in water to prevent tooth decay, and emphasizes the importance of regular dental cleanings and personal hygiene practices like brushing and flossing. Community dental health also includes education on the effects of diet on oral health, such as reducing sugar intake and using sugarless gums with sugar alcohols to decrease acid production which can damage teeth, and understanding and addressing health disparities due to socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic factors.
Periodontal disease, which affects the structures around the teeth, is one of the conditions that this specialty aims to prevent through community outreach and education about good oral hygiene. Furthermore, public health dentists advocate for the use of fluoride through various mediums, such as toothpaste and mouth rinses, with community water fluoridation recognized as the most cost-effective method for reducing tooth decay across different populations.