DENTAL caries or tooth decay is the world’s most prevalent, chronic, non-communicable disease (NCD).
The cavities caused by untreated caries are among the most common and unmet healthcare needs worldwide, affecting over 2.8 billion people across the life course, according to a new report, “A Global Consensus for Achieving a Dental Cavity-Free Future”.
The report was released by the Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future (ACFF), the London-based organization behind World Cavity-Free Future Day which is celebrated on October 14 each year.
The report was crafted by dental and public health experts who compose the Making Cavities History Taskforce formed last year to develop policy recommendations included in the ACFF report.
The report defines good oral health as all-important as it affects our ability to speak, smile, smell, taste, touch, chew, swallow and convey a range of emotions through facial expressions with confidence and without pain, discomfort and disease.
Untreated tooth decay can lead to intense personal suffering from pain, tooth loss and infection, which in turn can affect the ability to eat, which can potentially stunt growth and development.
Untreated tooth decay is a major cause of toothache, a prevalent condition even in rich countries.
The report cites a recent national dental survey of children in the United Kingdom showing that 18 percent of 12- and 15 percent of 15-year-olds saying they suffered from toothache in the previous three months.
A recent review also highlighted the strong association between toothache and poorer quality of life. Each year, severe tooth decay puts tens of thousands of people in hospitals, predominantly children all around the world, the ACFF report observes.
“They are hospitalized for tooth removal, with risky general anesthetics administered which can be the cause of further health complications.”
In countries where dental services are readily available, the stigma of poor oral health and tooth decay causes suffering to those who experience it. Many times, patients are embarrassed to visit the dentist knowing that they require intervention.
Many patients continue to suffer unnecessarily, delaying treatment until they can no longer bear the pain.
Often, the cost of a routine dental visit either undesirable or beyond the spending capacity of patients.
When left unmanaged, tooth decay “can cause negative long-term social and psychological effects for children and adults, which may be reflected in anxiety, lack of desire to smile or confidence in communicating with others, all of which can severely affect people’s quality of life,” the ACFF report says./PN
