7
Volume2 Issue7
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CDA
at
W
ork
I
was recently inBangkok to lead theCanadian
delegationat the103rdAnnualWorld
Dental Congress, themeetingof theFDI
WorldDental Federation (FDI). There,we
engaged ina seriesof parliamentary style
meetings andmet separatelywith represent-
ativesof several national dental associations.
I’d like tohighlight a few key issues from these
meetings,which focusedon thechallenges and
opportunities facingdentists around theworld.
Oneof FDI’smost important roles is thepubli-
cationof position statements. It isno small feat
to reachconsensuson these statements among
over 130member countries. Consider theFDI’s
newpositionon sugar,which recognizes the link
between sugar consumptionanddental caries
andother noncommunicablediseases (NCDs).
In2013, at theurgingof FDI, theWorldHealth
Organization (WHO) listedoral diseases as an
NCD that is closelyassociatedwith theworld’s
4deadliestNCDs. Oneof the4majorNCDs is
diabetes,which isgarneringmajor attention
fromboth theWHOandnational health
ministries. Byaligningdentistry’s efforts to
decrease sugar consumptionwithglobal
efforts addressing theburdenof diabetes,
wecanmake faster progress indecreas-
ingcaries risk. Acoordinatedapproach
to reducing sugar consumptionmaybe
moreeffective than focusingondisease
modifying factors suchasoral hygiene
andfluoride. This isparticularly relevant
duringa timewhengovernments are
contemplatingmeasures to limit daily sugar
consumption, suchas taxation, food
labellingand regulation.
Tohelpusmanage the
challenges facingCana-
diandentistry, it is es-
sential tounderstand
the issuesunfolding
inother countries and
the strategies adopt-
edbyother national dental associations. These
challenges includeanoversupplyof dentists
inmanyareas, evolvingorganizationalmodels
for dental practices, andgovernment concern
about theoveruseof keymedications, suchas
opioids andantibiotics, andpotential restrictions
in their use.
One thing is clear: Canada is far aheadof other
countries in the systemswehave inplace to
makeour day-to-daypractiseeasier. This in-
cludes thevarious elementsneeded for elec-
tronicclaims transmission (e.g., USC&LScodes,
CDAnet, ITRANS),malpractice insurance systems
that areownedby theprofession (including
CDSPI,whosemalpractice insurancepremiums
havebeendecreasing) andan integrated system
of definedcompetencies for newdentists, ac-
creditationandnational examinations.
TheBangkokmeetings also saw thepublication
of the secondeditionof theOral HealthAtlas,
TheChallengeofOralDisease
. This atlasmakes
fascinating reading for anyone interested inden-
tal diseasedemographics around theglobe. An
electroniccopy is availableon theFDIwebsite.
Andfinally, onapersonal note I amdelight-
ed thatDr. JackCottrell of Port Perry, Ontario,
was electedas FDI treasurer for a3-year term.
Apast-president of CDA, Jack servedon the
13-member FDI Council for the last 5years and
his stellar performance thereearnedhim the
confidenceof theFDI General Assembly.
Congratulations Jack!
Canadiandentistrydoesnot operate in isolation
of global trends in theprofession; international
support is important for our efforts to improve
oral health. ThroughFDImembershipandpar-
ticipationat theFDImeetings, CDAhas aglobal
impact and sharpens itsperspectiveon the
issues thatmatter close tohome.
From thePresident
AGlobalPerspective
OralDisease
AlastairNicoll, bdsh
ons
