by A new outreach campaign called Perio & Family Doctors is promoting collaboration between oral health providers and family physicians. The campaign, developed by the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) and the World Organisation of Family Doctors (WONCA) Europe, aims to improve patient treatment outcomes and overall well-being through closer cooperation between dental and general practitioners.
The campaign emphasizes the importance of informing family doctors about gum diseases and their consequences. On the other hand, oral health professionals need to be made aware of the significance of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their associated risk factors. By sharing knowledge and expertise, these healthcare professionals can proactively address prevalent systemic health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, smoking, and hyperlipidemia, which have a global impact on patients.
The collaboration between dentists and family doctors is crucial in the early detection and management of NCDs, as well as in promoting healthier lifestyles. Periodontitis, in particular, is closely linked to broader systemic disease states. Recognizing this paradigm shift, the Perio & Family Doctors campaign advocates for proactive strategies for identifying periodontitis within primary care centers and cardiovascular diseases and diabetes within dental settings.
To disseminate the campaign’s key messages, various materials, including infographics and digital content, have been made available on the EFP website. The aim is to visually and intuitively convey the findings of a scientific consensus report published earlier this year in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, which highlights the independent association between periodontal disease, specifically periodontitis, and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep apnea, and Covid-19 complications), among others.
Periodontitis is recognized as the sixth most common disease worldwide, yet its impact on general health is still not widely known. The Perio & Family Doctors campaign seeks to raise awareness and improve the treatment of patients by advancing knowledge and understanding in the field of oral care. Curasept, an EFP partner, supports the campaign and aims to find innovative solutions to enhance oral care, recognizing the crucial role it plays in overall well-being.
By fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing between oral health providers and family physicians, the Perio & Family Doctors campaign aims to improve patient outcomes and contribute to comprehensive healthcare. Through this campaign, both healthcare professionals and the general public can gain a better understanding of the significant connections between oral health and systemic diseases, leading to greater overall wellness and quality of life.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
