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ePaper created 2015-02-13, 11:18:13 | version 1.33.01
news 7AEEDC Dubai 2015 reliable indicators of severe pe- riodontitis. We endeavoured to reflect the measures adopted by the larger community of public health dentistry. The choice of including only severe periodontitis and not less severe forms of periodontal dis- ease, such as mild or moderate periodontitis and gingivitis, was because of their low impact (disability weight) on quality of life. Since periodontitis tends to progressfrommildtosevereifun- treated, our numbers reflect only the tip of the iceberg, indicating the seriousness of the challenge to health professionals. Why is the situation so little addressed by the dental com- munity, and how could it be better addressed? The fact that a preventable oral disease is the sixth most prevalent of all 291 diseases and injuries examined in the 2010 GBD is quite disturbing and shouldcauseallofustoredouble our efforts to raise awareness of the importance of oral health among policymakers. It is rea- sonable to prioritise life-threat- ening diseases that have a greater impact on quality of life; however, it is unacceptable to neglect severe oral diseases. Untreated caries in the perma- nent dentition is the most preva- lent of all oral diseases and periodontitis the sixth, and untreated caries in the primary dentition is the tenth most pre- valent disease in the world. It is possible that the preven- tion and treatment of periodon- titis are neglected because most health strategies target children at school and severe periodon- titis is uncommon before the age of 20. I believe we need to seri- ously consider a change in strat- egy and target the adult popula- tion. Also, we should focus on de- terminants of health rather than the disease itself. We call this the common risk factor approach. For example, many dental practices in the UK run smoking cessation pro- grammes. This will not only reduce the number of cases of periodontitis but also help pre- vent life-threatening diseases, such as cancer and cardiovas- cular disease. Adopting the com- mon risk factor approach would lead to the inclusion of oral health in the top five most re- levant diseases. This is because oral diseases and serious life- threatening diseases share the same determinants, for example smoking, hygiene and diet. Thank you very much for the interview. Get a more realistic scan with RealColor Measure the shades of teeth while you scan Save time for you and your patient 3ShapeTRIOS® Impression of the future While you read this message thousands of your colleagues are already using our 3D intraoral scanner with RealColor . Why..? Simply because it makes their work better, faster and easier. GET AN IMPRESSION OF WHAT YOUR COLLEAGUES ARE DOING Join us at AEEDC Booth 5A13 AD of severe periodontitis in the world. (Photo Celso Diniz) “With more people living longer and retaining their teeth for life,the risk of developing severe oral health-related problems,particularly periodontitis,will be high.”