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FDI World Dental Congress 2023
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Advocacy to improve oral health: practical tips and examples from the caries world

Fdi Session (On Demand)

FDI Session (On-demand)

2:00 pm

26 September 2023

C2.2 - 2.3

Session Description

Advocacy to improve oral health: practical tips and examples from the caries world
The dental profession currently has a window of opportunity with oral health high on the agenda at global and national levels. In order to capitalise on this opportunity the whole profession must be ready to advocate for oral health at all levels and with multiple stakeholders. This session will explore the need for advocacy in relation to the burden of caries and will cover practical aspects and tips for advocacy for the whole profession at local, national and international level as well as looking at specific real world examples where advocacy has been successful in relation to caries.

Learning Objectives
  •  By the end of the session, participants will be able to describe the need for advocacy in respect of caries prevention
  •  By the end of the session, participants will be able to undertake advocacy using practical tips
  •  By the end of the session, participants will be able to give examples of successful advocacy examples
 
 Tim Newton
National Dental Associations and their members have enormous potential to act as advocates for behaviour change that will create positive growth in oral health in addition to their current activity in this area. This lecture will cover both the range of advocacy that could be undertaken in order to change the oral health behaviours of the population, but also explore the behaviour change required by health care professionals to be effective advocates.

Learning Objectives
  •  Identify a range of approaches to advocating for Oral Heath Behaviour Change
  •  Identify the key behaviours required for effective advocacy
  •  Consider how advocacy can create effective opportunities for behaviour change
  •  Consider how advocacy can motivate behaviour change
  •  Consider how advocacy can create capability for behaviour change
 
 Nick Miller
The dental profession currently has a window of opportunity with oral health high on the agenda at global and national levels. In order to capitalise on this opportunity the whole profession must be ready to advocate for oral health at all levels and with multiple stakeholders. This session will explore the need for advocacy in relation to the burden of caries and will cover practical aspects and tips for advocacy for the whole profession at local, national and international level as well as looking at specific real world examples where advocacy has been successful in relation to caries.
Learning Objectives
  •  By the end of the session, participants will be able to describe the need for advocacy in respect of caries prevention
  •  By the end of the session, participants will be able to undertake advocacy using practical tips
  •  By the end of the session, participants will be able to give examples of successful advocacy examples
 
 Prof Stefania Martignon
Non-treated cavities in the primary dentition -the 10th more prevalent global health condition (2010: 9% with a peak in 1-4-year olds) corresponded in Colombia to 33.8% (1-5 y.). The National Health System in Colombia does not include silver diamine fluoride; only since 2013, twice-a-year application of sodium fluoride varnish was included, starting at the age of 1 year. Nevertheless, the coverage is not as expected by the Ministry of Health.
Taking this into account plus the FDI and WHO 2030 proposal to include silver diamine fluoride (SDF) as an essential medicament, our research group in Universidad El Bosque (UNICA) (and with support from the ACFF), decided to advocate for the inclusion of SDF in the Colombian Health System. By advice of the oral health representative from the Ministry of Health, we have started a research project to demonstrate in our young population, the feasibility and caries-control/prevention effectiveness of SDF, by comparing it after 1-year with NaF.
This presentation will discuss the related advocacy.

Learning Objectives
  •  By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to have a glance of the Colombian oral health children situation.
  •  By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to understand about Colombian dentists and young children parents/caregivers knowledge of fluoride and silver diamine fluoride.
  •  By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to understand an example of advocacy for a cavity-free future.
 
 Tolulope Osigbesan
FDI members have the expertise and legitimacy required to speak on behalf of communities and support the mobilization of resources needed to address oral diseases. Advocating for systemic change may not be part of the dentist’s professional curriculum, but it is a natural progression for the 21st century oral healthcare provider. Furthermore, advocacy can be impactful if carefully planned and implemented. This presentation will cover some must-have elements in planning and conducting strategic advocacy.

Learning Objectives
  •  Describe the role of dentists and dental teams in advocacy for oral health.
  • Describe some key steps in planning strategic advocacy.
  • Highlight the importance of collaboration in increasing the impact of advocacy.
 
 Dr Chris Vernazza
This presentation will cover the current burden of caries, and the importance of advocacy in addressing this. It will also cover the current global context of efforts to improve caries care and oral health.

Learning Objectives
  •  By the end of the presentation participants will be able to describe the global situation in terms of the burden of caries.
  •  By the end of the presentation participants will be able to describe the importance of advocacy in improving caries care.
  •  By the end of the presentation participants will be able to describe the importance of advocacy in the context of global developments in oral health policy.

Speakers

Resources