World leaders in dentistry, oral health, and public health gather to discuss a cavity-free future
Hong Kong, China (Aug. 31, 2012) — Today at the FDI’s World Dental Congress in Hong Kong, world leaders in dentistry, oral health, and public health gathered for the 3rd Annual Summit of the Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future (the Alliance) to discuss how to better engage communities to prevent and manage dental caries.
The Alliance was launched globally in September 2010 with a global declaration signed by members of the World Health Organization (WHO), Pan American Health Organization (WHO), FDI World Dental Federation, and the International Association of Dental Research (IADR). Today, the Alliance challenges global leaders and other regional and local stakeholders to take action against caries, and specifically early stages of the disease process which might go on to form cavities, but which can be prevented and controlled before developing to that stage.
Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease on the planet, affecting five billion people, or nearly 80% of the world’s population.(1) In China, a 2005 national epidemiological study revealed that 62% of Chinese children aged 5 and 6 years old suffered from caries.(2) The same study showed that 61% of Chinese adults aged 35 to 44 had caries and the prevalence of caries was even higher among adults aged 65 to 74, with an average of 75% of adults in this age group affected by caries.(3)
Caries not only affects an individual’s oral health through tooth loss, pain, and reduced oral function, but also impacts an individual’s sense of well-being, self-esteem, employability, and social mobility. Beyond the individual level, poor dental and oral health can lead to increased country spending, where as much as 5% to 10% of health costs can go toward caries treatment.
“With a high prevalence of caries among children and adults in both mainland China and Hong Kong, the work of the Alliance in stopping caries initiation and progression is increasingly important,” said Dr. Nigel Pitts, chairman of the global Alliance. “By detecting and treating caries early, we can prevent the formation of cavities and help improve the overall health and quality of life of individuals within these communities.”
In an effort to activate communities, the Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future has launched several local Alliance organizations throughout the world, including chapters in Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, and Venezuela, with a chapter in China expected later this year. Each chapter is dedicated to achieving the Alliance goals in their own communities; some of the activities completed to date have included launching in-local-language Web-based content for professionals and families, partnering with local Ministries of Health and other local stakeholders, working to standardize the caries curriculum at key academic institutions, and developing models that can be used to address oral health in early childhood. An Alliance chapter in China is also expected in the near future.
For the first time, this year’s summit also included an “ICDAS” symposium — on understanding dental caries. The symposium focused on understanding the caries disease process and the importance of early lesions, the epidemiology of caries, how to plan for controlling and preventing caries at the community and individual level, and how to manage caries.
To learn more about the Alliance, please visit their website.
About Caries as a Continuum — As dietary patterns around the globe shift, tooth decay becomes a major public health burden to countries around the world. This results in diminishing oral health and an impact on other health conditions; reduces overall well-being, self-esteem, employability, and social mobility; and affects both individuals and countries from an economic standpoint. However, most people do not realize that early-stage caries is preventable and initially reversible. Through its efforts, the Alliance has been working with dental and public health leaders on a global and local level to raise awareness about the importance of caries as a disease continuum and the role of early detection, prevention, and management of caries.
About the Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future — The Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future is a worldwide group of experts who have joined together to promote integrated clinical and public health action to stop caries initiation and progression — their goal is to move toward a cavity-free future for all age groups. Overall, the group believes that global collaborative action is needed to challenge global leaders and other regional and local stakeholders to learn the importance of caries as a disease continuum where small initial caries lesions can be prevented and controlled before developing into gross cavities. The Alliance also works to drive and to participate in action toward the delivery of comprehensive caries prevention and management that can positively influence the continuing problem of caries.
The campaign kicked off in September 2010 at the 2010 FDI Annual World Dental Congress in Brazil. To date, local chapters have been launched in Colombia (May 2011), Mexico (September 2011), Brazil (January 2012), and Venezuela (April 2012), with additional chapters following in the near future. More information about the Alliance can be found here.
References
1. World Health Organization, Report on Oral Health, 2003. Available at: http://www.who.int/oral_health/media/en/orh_report03_en.pdf
2. Ibid.
3. Hu D, Hong X, Li X. “Oral health in China — Trends and challenges.” International Journal of Oral Science. 2011;3:7-12.
4. Ibid.
