Reasons to pay attention to dental health
"elevator speeches for dental health priority"
Dental disease is the most common chronic health condition in Armenia - or anywhere.
Dental disease impacts, and/or is impacted by,
- diabetes,
- heart disease,
- lower respiratory problems
- atherosclerotic plaques
- chronic kidney disease
- transplant medicine
- radiation or autoimmune disease impacting salivary glands
- Rheumatoid arthritis - Hippocrates sugested pulling teeth to cure arthritis!
- Parkinsonism, ALS, Huntington's disease
- Mental health issues
- substance use disorders
- pregnancy
Given the many conditions associated with dental disease, think of the potential for collaboration between the organizers of the dental sessions and other sessions including neuro, oncology, pediatrics, diabetes, trauma, stroke, maternal-perinatal, cardiology, palliative care, screening, education, transplant med, nursing, primary care. Who knew?
Armenia does not have a national fluoride program. Fluoridation of salt is a very inexpensive and effective alternative; salt iodination is already taking place in Armenia.
Coca Cola HBC Armenia generated AMD 22 billion in 2023. Meanwhile black tea contains roughly 4 ppm of fluoride and doesn't rot your teeth.
Pediatricians can provide such routine preventive measures as counseling, screening for caries, fluoride varnishes, and referral to dentists.
Children living in poverty are at increased risk of dental disease, with lower access to treatment.
Dental disease in the primary parent/caregiver is a significant risk factor for dental disease in the child.
Water fluoridation is a cost-effective means of preventing dental caries, with the lifetime cost per person equaling less than the cost of 1 dental restoration. (taken from the aap.org article above)
Collaboration between pediatricians and dentists is an excellent opportunity to prevent the most common chronic disease in Armenia.
YSMU now offers a dental hygienist (dental HYEgienist) training program.
Karagheusian, OHFAR and COAF have ongoing dental prevention programs in Armenia.