115

Journal of Contemporary Medical Sciences

BETTER ORAL HEALTH TO ALL

Despite vast improvement in global oral health, problems  persist in many populations and communities 
particularly among the underprivileged in both and developed and  developing countries. Dental caries 
and periodontal diseases have for years burdened the majority of populations with heavy treatment and 
financial needs. Dental caries is still a major oral health problem in most industrialized countries as it 
affects 60-90% of school-aged children and the vast majority of adults. According to the World Health 
Organization oral diseases are the fourth most expensive to treat. Their treatment costs exceed those of 
cancer, heart and coronary diseases, stroke and dementia in most industrialized countries. It has been 
estimated that the European Union countries used 79 billion euros for oral health care in 2012. Should 
the present trend continue the costs could exceed 93 billion euros in 2020.

Oral and dental care, as known in the developed world, is not available to 90% of the global population. 
The millions living in poverty do not have access to emergency dental care or to preventive measures to help 
them in their own oral health. It has been estimated that 80% of dentists in the world are serving 20% of the 
global population. Given their prevalence worldwide oral diseases represent major public health problems 
causing pain, suffering and reduced quality of life. Generally, studies on dental caries and periodontal 
 diseases have shown a decreasing trend of oral diseases in developed countries. On the other hand assessing 
the situation in developing countries is characterized by lack of continuous and reliable data despite the 
 recommendations of WHO. To provide or even to plan dental services required to meet the needs, oral 
health need assessments and surveys are necessary both locally and nationally.

The major oral diseases are today understood more clearly than ever as behavior-related diseases. They 
are preventable through individual’s own actions supported by the health professionals. Generally, health 
behaviors, either health-enhancing or health- detrimental, are mostly derived through norms, values and goals 
of the family. The family plays the primary role in the acquisition, modification and improvement of health 
behavior. However, maintaining let alone changing health related behavior is a vast  challenge. Everyday life is 
full of health related risks known or unknown to the individuals. A health-related behavior is not a simple 
matter of freedom of choice rather than reflection of one’s lifestyle. Lifestyle with different risks being also 
determinants of different diseases should be understood as an expression of the cultural and social  environment 
in which people live and work. This concept bears significant impact on oral health. The core group of 
 modifiable risk factors for the chronic diseases often cluster in the same population groups and individuals. 
These factors include smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, hygiene and stress. Controlling one or a small 
number of risk factors have a major impact on a number of chronic diseases including oral diseases. 

The behavioral science experts are of opinion that only comprehensive and integrated 
 common-risk-factor-based health promotion activities can enhance oral health and its equity as a part 
of general health. Are health professionals ready to assume their responsibility for promoting better 
oral health?

Heikki Murtomaa
Department of Dental Public Health, Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Finland.

Correspondence to Heikki Murtomaa (email: heikki.murtomaa@helsinki.fi)

Editorial Note