Reducing Dental Caries among Children Globally with Dr. Burton Edelstein

Dr. Burton Edelstein, Professor at Columbia University, spoke with Dr. Suham Alexander about the initiatives of the Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future that aim to reduce dental caries in children worldwide. 

Alliance for a Cavity Free Future Canada-US Chapter Launch Keynote 

Highlights

The Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future is a worldwide initiative that aims to reduce the chronic and preventable disease of dental caries amongst children globally. The Alliance intends to set a date so that children born by 2020 will not experience tooth decay.

Dental practitioners must understand the nuances of the language we use with our patients and colleagues. As an example, cavities and the disease process of caries are not synonymous. By using appropriate terminology, dental teams will be able to engage families and help them understand that we must address the disease process (caries) in order to effectively arrest or reduce the chances of the disease outcome (cavities).

Similarly, dental care and oral health care are not interchangeable terms. Dental care is an important contributor to oral health but, so are genetics, nutrition, social determinants, environment and behaviour. Many of the determinants of childhood caries take place in the child’s home and not in the dental office. Clinicians must take a supportive role in the child’s oral health but, families must take the primary role.

Dental practitioners should consider referrals to other resources within the community such as community health workers, dieticians, nutritionists, social workers etc. These professional may be able to better assist families in understanding and affecting health behaviour changes which impact of the various factors and determinants that play a role in children’s oral health.

Watch the video interview