Oral health for healthy longevity in an ageing society: maintaining momentum and moving forward

Abstract

The ageing of populations worldwide is rapidly accelerating. However, the global burden of oral disease remains a critical and often underestimated problem. As ageing progresses globally, oral health maintenance becomes a matter not only of public health, but also of human rights. Therefore, in low-and middle-income countries, policymakers are seeking to realize universal health coverage even as they struggle with severe resource limitations. To achieve and maintain global oral health, we propose an ongoing global monitoring cycle consisting of the following four steps: needs assessment, implementation of appropriate health care systems and provisions, reducing the global burden of oral disease, and working to achieve a healthy ageing society. Rather than a unidirectional information flow from high income to low-and middle-income countries, the proposed system would establish a multidirectional information-sharing cycle that would benefit all countries. To make this possible, however, we must develop a standardized set of core oral health indicators that all countries use, as well as a global repository for gathering, compiling, and sharing the data. This system would allow each country to move forward at its own pace and in locally-appropriate ways, making it more effective and efficient in the long run than the current pattern of setting unrealistic goals that all countries are expected to achieve by a certain point in time.

Factors that influence the oral impact on daily performance of older people in Brazil: A cross‐sectional population‐based study

“…The present economic scenario has increased the need for more efficient public policies directed towards impacting the population's quality of life . Results from the present study focused on factors that influenced the oral health‐related quality of life of older people.…”

“…Population ageing worldwide, as a result of medical advances and better living environment, have significantly extended the life expectancy in many countries . This global phenomenon is also linked to many public health challenges, which include the increasing number of people needing health care, urgency of implementing preventive measures and special attention to reducing the impact of health problems on the population's overall quality of life . In addition, the economic impact of health problems, austerity policies and their implications on people's quality of life have been causes of concern to many policymakers …”

“…The SDG‐3 include not only the promotion of good health and healthy lifestyles, but also express concern about people's well‐being at all ages. This is important because it impels the provision of health services not only to reduce prevalence of diseases, but also to promote population's well‐being and quality of life . In addition, the FDI World Dental Federation established the “Oral Health for an Ageing Population” programme to raise awareness about the oral health of the older people and discuss the role of oral healthcare policies in producing solutions.…”

“…In addition, the FDI World Dental Federation established the “Oral Health for an Ageing Population” programme to raise awareness about the oral health of the older people and discuss the role of oral healthcare policies in producing solutions. The FDI has also adopted policy statements focusing on the role of oral health in personal well‐being and quality of life …”

“…Higher prevalence of tooth loss and poorer oral health have been extensively reported, and these factors have resulted from inefficient public policies to reduce the impact of oral diseases. Many countries and organizations have implemented actions to reduce oral health inequalities and promote universal access to dental services . However, these policies may have considered factors other than access.…”