HJAR Nov/Dec 2021

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  NOV / DEC 2021 57 Niki Carter, DMD, MPH Dental Director Delta Dental of Arkansas strengthens the pivotal role in treating and educating patients in adopting life- style changes to decrease the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases. 6 Engaging with patients in our everyday discussions to make better choices with their oral health and educating themon how this affects their overall health is the key message in this im- portant dialogue. In striving to achieve a protocol that proves effective, several key elements should be identified. These should include modification of risk behaviors that are related to diet and nutrition, maintaining good oral care and halting the use of to- bacco products. 7 Education on the fact that oral health affects overall health is a pri- mary goal, and reaching children early on when preventive measures can be taken is a priority. Economically, it makes sense to attempt to prevent diseases before they present as larger and more costly problems. U.S. healthcare spending grew 4.6% in 2019, reaching $3.8 trillion. 8 Healthcare spend- ing accounts for 17.7% of the nation’s gross domestic product. Nationally, in 2019, dental services totaled $139.9 billion, which is 4.3% of personal health expenditures. With these huge costs, we must strive to reduce the enormous burden it places on our health- care system. Acknowledging the fact that positive oral health outcomes can lead to positive over- all health outcomes should lead the way in creating new public policy for WHO and many other health organizations. As med- ical-dental integration progresses, the ap- proach to overall care will benefit patients comprehensively in public health. 9 Teaching patients to take care of their oral cavities while adding that this benefits their overall health is a big takeaway message. Interdisciplinary collaboration of both dental and medical professions is of utmost importance to provide care in the model of a whole-body approach to achieving optimal health. The promotion of healthy practices for good oral health, which are essential for positive overall health outcomes, must be the message from all healthcare providers. n REFERENCES 1 Phillips. “World Health Organization reso- lution coincides with Philips’ belief that oral health and overall health are linked.” Jun 9, 2021. https://www.philips.com/ a-w/about/news/archive/standard/news/ articles/2021/20210609-world-health- organization-resolution-coincides-with- philips-belief-that-oral-health-and-overall- health-are-linked.html. 2 Gonzales, T., “Communicable and Noncom- municable Diseases – A Global Dialogue.” ACD News, American College of Dentists. Summer 2021, vol. 50, no. 2. 3 National Institute of Health, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. “Dental Caries (Tooth Decay).” Last Reviewed July 2018. https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/research/data- statistics/dental-caries 4 Yahoo Finance. “FDI World Dental Federa- tion says Be Proud of Your Mouth for World Oral Health Day 2021 to 2023.” Oct. 21, 2020. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/fdi-world- dental-federation-says-000000966.html. 5 King, J. S. “Covid-19 and the Need for Health Care Reform.” New England Journal of Medi- cine. April 17, 2020. https://www.nejm.org/doi/ full/10.1056/NEJMp2000821. 6 Hannan, C.J.; Ricks, T.L.; Espinoza L.; Wein- traub, J.A. “Addressing Oral Health Inequi- ties, Access to Care, Knowledge, and Behav- iors.” Preventing Chronic Disease, CDC. Vol. 18. March 25, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/ pcd18.210060 7 Roberts, N. J.; Kerr, S. M.; Smith, S. M. “Be- havioral interventions associated with smok- ing cessation in the treatment of tobacco use.” Health Services Insights, Sage Journals. Aug. 11, 2013. https://doi.org/10.4137/HSI.S11092. 8 CMS. “CMS Office of the Actuary Releases 2019 National Health Expenditures.” Dec. 16, 2020. https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/ press-releases/cms-office-actuary-releases- 2019-national-health-expenditures. 9 Atchison, K. A.; R. G. Rozier; Weintraub, J. A. “Integration of Oral Health and Primary Care: Communication, Coordination and Referral.” Discussion Paper, National Acad- emy of Medicine. Oct. 8, 2018. https://doi. org/10.31478/201810e. health. This will include education, col- laborative communication between pro- fessions and academia. These three arms will support reduction in disease burden, aid risk factor identification, improve ac- cess to care and create an element of em- powerment for all who participate in this endeavor. Because there has been an information- al gap on the link between oral health and overall health, there has been an existing public health awareness breakdown. The appropriate acknowledgement and re- sponse from WHO has given this health association the necessary realization for which it was long overdue. New oral health policy will pave the way for development of oral health treatment guidelines for use in primary healthcare systems, which can then become an essential component of health coverage universally. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many people to start making better and more informed health choices. This global health crisis has made people cognizant of their current health state and increased their awareness and appreciation for good health. The desire for obtaining and main- taining good health has been a dominant theme as the virus lives longer and con- tinues to mutate. The number of people taking control of their health behavior is growing, as well as the choices they make that affect their lives and well-being. 5 With this preferential choice comes knowledge that in order to achieve the optimal out- come, it will require preventing the nega- tive one. This is a huge win for dental profession- als, all healthcare providers and most im- portantly, the public. By integrating oral health into future polices by WHO, this