UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository)
The neglect of global oral health: symptoms and solutions
Benzian, H.
Publication date
2014
Link to publication
Citation for published version (APA):
Benzian, H. (2014). The neglect of global oral health: symptoms and solutions.
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155
CHAPTER 8b
Advocacy for global
oral health
Putting teeth into
chronic diseases
Benzian H, Hobdell M, Mackay J. Putting teeth into chronic
dis-eases. Lancet. 2011; 377: 464.
157
8b Putting teeth into chronic diseases
Robert Geneau and colleagues1 highlight that public health priorities and political priorities
are not necessarily aligned. We could not agree more with their conclusion that the ‘neglect of chronic diseases is a political, not a technical, failure since costeffective interventions are available’.
However, the current discussions risk falling into the same trap by neglecting the most prevalent chronic disease worldwide – dental decay. The global impact of oral diseases on health and health systems (oral diseases rank 4th in terms of health system costs) is largely
ignored or underestimated.2,3
The global epidemic of dental decay affects more than 90% of the world’s population: between 40% and 90% of 12yearolds have dental decay and its consequences, such as pain, chronic infection, absenteeism, low quality of life and effects on growth, development, and educational performance. In lowresource countries almost all decay remains untreated.4,5
Stakeholders in global oral health have not succeeded in framing the problem in a way that resonates with broader public health agendas. We are concerned that oral health, once again, will be neglected in favour of other disease entities simply because they have more visible advocacy campaigns.
In January, 2007, the WHO DirectorGeneral said that ‘oral diseases are a neglected area of international health. We have the tools and best practices to address them, but we need to ensure that they are applied and implemented.’ Dental diseases are not a niche area of health. Only when oral health is incorporated within the chronic disease discourse will sus tained progress be possible.
8b
References
1. Geneau R, Stuckler D, Stachenko S, McKee M, Ebrahim S, Basu S, Chockalingham A, Mwatsama M, Jamal R, Alwan A, Beaglehole R. Raising the priority of preventing chronic diseases: a political process. Lancet. 2010;376:1689-1698.
2. The Lancet. Oral health: prevention is key. Lancet. 2009;373:1.
3. World Health Organization. Oral health: action plan for promotion and integrated disease prevention. World Health Assembly Resolution WHA60/R17 2007. http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA60/ A60_16-en.pdf (accessed Jan 24, 2011)
4. Beaglehole R, Benzian H, Crail J, Mackay J. The Oral Health Atlas: mapping a neglected global health issue. Geneva & Brighton: FDI World Dental Education Ltd & Myriad Editions; 2009
5. Petersen PE, Bourgeois D, Ogawa H, Estupiňan-Day S, Ndiaye C. The global burden of oral diseases and risks to oral health. Bull World Health Organ. 2005;83:661-669.
