Periodontal disease is one of the two most important oral diseases contributing to the global burden of chronic disease. It is highly prevalent worldwide and therefore represents a major public health problem. Because traditional clinical treatments as well as individualized preventive approaches focus on tooth-brushing behaviors alone will never adequately address this problem, it has been recognized that a population public health approach is required to prevent and control periodontal disease. The entire population is at risk for periodontal disease because of the presence of many elevated risk factors such as poor hygiene, tobacco use, psychosocial factors and related systemic diseases. Consequently, action to prevent periodontal disease and promote periodontal health should focus on social determinants and on controlling the behavioral risk factors in a well-integrated manner. Significant population level achievements in periodontal health can be expected when oral health planners link periodontal disease prevention to chronic disease intervention.
Public health approach and policy led by the WHO advocated a range of population level action to tackle chronic diseases and reduce health inequalities. Recent WHO experiences indicate that the existing evidence on the periodontal health consequences of tobacco use is being used by several countries in the planning of national public health programs, partly as an effect of the 2007 WHA Resolution (WHA60.17) on oral health.
In this presentation, actions and approaches toward dealing with risk factors in periodontal disease prevention and periodontal health promotion according to major public population initiatives will be discussed.