The FDI World Dental Federation has published a white paper and a practical guide as part of its Global Periodontal Health Project (GPHP), which aims to bring attention to periodontal health as a priority area for policy worldwide.
“Periodontal disease, or gum disease as it is often better known, is one of the most common diseases, affecting up to 50% of the adult population worldwide,” said Kathryn Kell, DDS, FDI president.
“This should not be taken lightly, especially since we know it has a significant relationship with other health conditions. We must pursue prevention strategies that are promoted by oral health and general health professionals alike,” Kell said.
The White Paper on Prevention and Management of Periodontal Diseases for Oral Health and General Health provides a comprehensive yet concise summary of the main issues related to the global prevalence and impacts of periodontal disease, FDI reports. The paper also covers the etiology and pathogenesis, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease, as well as identifies the key challenges of tackling its burden.
Periodontal Health and Disease—A Practical Guide to Reduce the Global Burden of Periodontal Disease is based on considerations from the white paper and the 2017 FDI World Oral Health Forum, which focused on global periodontal health.
The guide introduces periodontal health and sets the context for the global burden of periodontal disease. It also provides practical guidance for national dental associations to design, conduct, and evaluate advocacy campaigns that will advance the implementation of policies to prevent and manage periodontal disease.
“The white paper sets out an action plan on the prevention and management of periodontal disease. The practical guide helps oral health professionals establish advocacy goals that will reach policymakers and contributes to implementing successful campaigns,” said Lijian Jin, DDS, PhD, chair of the GPHP Task Team.
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