A billion smiles welcome the World of Dentistry was the theme of recently concluded World Dental Congress (FDI) in India. The Honorable President of India, while inaugurating the said mega event categorically stated that oral diseases pose a major threat to public health problems resulting from tobacco use, alcohol and changing lifestyle.
Honorable President complimented FDI and United Nations for recognition of oral diseases as a part of noncommunicable diseases (NCD) such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, cancer, and respiratory diseases on account of partaking certain familiar risk factors. He categorically stressed the need of “oral health revolution,” similar to the green revolution and white revolution. He highlighted the heavy rate of oral cancer cases in the country with tobacco use being the leading cause behind the lethal disease and also stated that the prevalence of dental caries is nearly 70% and periodontal disease affects nearly 90% of the Indian population.
India has made an incredible progress in all spheres including the control and prevention of communicable diseases. However, in oral health the country lags behind. In spite of having 305 dental schools (highest in the world), the oral health of Indians remains far beyond satisfaction. It is very disheartening to know that no proper prevalence and incidence data are maintained; hence, the construal makes the work difficult.
It is a matter of pleasure to know that currently the World Dental Federation (FDI) launched FDI data hub for global oral health. FDI, the representative organization of National Dental Associations, deserves compliments as the data hub is an easy to use, one-stop shop for global oral health. It will provide FDI members and policy makers with the contrivance to support and promote advocacy for the dental profession. As recognized by the United Nations, Oral diseases pose a major health burden for many countries, share common risk factors and can benefit from common responses to NCD. Therefore, the FDI data hub includes the use of NCD risk factors together with oral health indicators. Tremendous efforts have been made by many countries and organizations, including India, around the world to collect data on oral health, yet significant gaps remains due to lack of regular country by country updates - highlighting the crucial need to remedy the dearth of data in the field of oral health and oral diseases.
Latest technologies have significantly improved diagnostic quality, patient comfort and efficiency in Dental care. Health care is under digital transformation, and it is redefining virtually every aspect of clinical practice. The National Dental Association of India (IDA) deserves compliments for organizing successfully such an important event with a theme of “A billion smiles welcome the world of Dentistry.” Let us anticipate the FDI's data hub will be an excellent meter in data monitoring and planning to control and thwart oral diseases.
Footnotes
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Conflict of Interest: None declared.