Newsletter
BRUSSELS, Belgium: The Platform for Better Oral Health in Europe has put forth targets for improved oral health and the launch of a Europe-wide consultation on priorities for achieving better oral health by 2020. At a recent round-table discussion during a meeting of the European Parliament, the targets were presented to EU policymakers and to a representative panel of public health stakeholders and professional associations.
The platform was established in response to the call to action submitted by members of the European Parliament to the then European health commissioner John Dalli in 2010. It promotes a common European approach towards education, prevention and access to better oral health care in Europe.
Part of a European-wide call for input, the proposed targets focus on three key priorities: data-collection systems, preventive policies, and education and awareness. According to the platform, the targets will serve as a basis for benchmarking EU member states’ progress towards increased prevention of oral diseases and improved oral health in Europe by 2020. In addition, the targets are expected to inform the joint action on chronic diseases, which will be launched in 2013 by the European Commission and EU member states. Platform members will actively coordinate with European institutions to ensure the collection, validation and dissemination of good practices to address common risk factors, prevent oral diseases, promote oral health and facilitate data collection.
The targets build on the platform’s “State of Oral Health in Europe” report published in September 2012 (reported by Dental Tribune), which indicated that despite significant achievements in the prevention of caries in Europe, much remains to be done, particularly in key areas, such as promoting oral health awareness, tackling oral health inequalities and addressing common risk factors. The report reinforced the need for measurable targets and high-quality oral health data in order to better assess the impact of prevention initiatives, and to guide oral health policies and strategies at all levels of government.
Agreed-upon targets will be announced in 2014
The consultation, which runs until December 2013, will seek to involve public health stakeholders and professional associations across EU member states in helping to further refine and focus the proposed targets. Following the conclusion of the consultation, the agreed-upon targets will be announced on World Oral Health Day 2014, along with key benchmarks and scorecards against which to better measure the state of oral health in all EU member states.
Presenting the 2020 targets, Prof. Kenneth Eaton, chair of the platform, said: “The burden of oral health disease continues to challenge Europe, particularly Southern and Eastern European countries where significant disparities already exist and where access to affordable treatment grows more and more difficult. Meaningful actions to increase disease prevention and improve the state of oral health across Europe are needed now. We are calling on stakeholders across Europe to help us make our proposed 2020 targets a reality, and to ensure that more Europeans take advantage of the simple, effective tools that can help them improve their oral health today.”
Untapped policy areas expected to be scrutinised as part of the consultation process include the need to improve care for the elderly, earlier diagnosis of oral cancer, integration of oral hygiene education in school programmes, and strengthened public awareness campaigns that make European citizens more aware of daily oral hygiene practices, including proper brushing and the use of fluoride-containing toothpaste, interdental cleaning, taking care of teeth when away from home with the use of sugar-free chewing gum and regular dental check-ups.
Oral health-related costs still on the rise
Less than a year ago, the “State of Oral Health in Europe” report, commissioned by the Platform for Better Oral Health in Europe, revealed that oral health-related costs are still on the rise even though caries and its complications are highly preventable through a healthy, balanced diet and routine oral hygiene practices.
The report estimated spending on dental treatment in the EU 27 to be close to €79 billion in 2012, a figure set to reach €93 billion by 2020 if adequate action is not taken immediately.
The consultation is open to all interested individuals and organisations: www.oralhealthplatform.eu.
