Progress Made in Oral Health Not Enough

Researchers from eight countries said at an Australian meeting that some progress has been made in improving the oral health of children, but not enough.

Presenting their findings during the 84th General Session of the International Association for Dental Research, research teams found:

– Targeted health promotion and increased access to dental services are needed to improve the oral health of adolescents in juvenile detention, say Australia researchers.

– A study at the Shanghai Children’s Medical Center raised awareness of early childhood caries, the prevalence of which is extremely high.

– The health system, oral health services, and socio-cultural and environmental risk factors, e.g., the use of alcohol and tobacco products, did modify, to some extent, the effects of risk factors such as infrequent use of oral health services, and unhealthy habits, in teenagers, according to researchers in Finland.