Dental Asia January/February 2023
For more than two decades, Dental Asia is the premium journal in linking dental innovators and manufacturers to its rightful audience. We devote ourselves in showcasing the latest dental technology and share evidence-based clinical philosophies to serve as an educational platform to dental professionals. Our combined portfolio of print and digital media also allows us to reach a wider market and secure our position as the leading dental media in the Asia Pacific region while facilitating global interactions among our readers.
For more than two decades, Dental Asia is the premium journal in linking dental innovators and manufacturers to its rightful audience. We devote ourselves in showcasing the latest dental technology and share evidence-based clinical philosophies to serve as an educational platform to dental professionals. Our combined portfolio of print and digital media also allows us to reach a wider market and secure our position as the leading dental media in the Asia Pacific region while facilitating global interactions among our readers.
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TRENDS<br />
World Diabetes Day reminds<br />
of the link between chronic<br />
diseases and oral health<br />
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects millions<br />
of people around the world. Self-diagnostics and<br />
self-care play an important role in the management<br />
of the disease — one part of this is thorough oral<br />
healthcare.<br />
By Nina Garlo-Melkas<br />
In Finland, a country with a population of<br />
about 5.5 million, there are about 450,000<br />
people diagnosed and receiving treatment<br />
for diabetes: about 50,000 type 1 and about<br />
400,000 type 2 diabetics. In addition, there<br />
are between 50,000 and 100,000 people with<br />
type 2 diabetes left undiagnosed. Moreover,<br />
gestational diabetes is diagnosed in<br />
thousands of expectant mothers every year.<br />
Type 2 diabetes is a national disease all over<br />
the world, where living standards are rising.<br />
Especially in the Western world, where obesity<br />
is a common public health problem, said Dr<br />
Timo Sorsa, professor of Oral and Maxillofacial<br />
Diseases at the University of Helsinki.<br />
Gum diseases such as periodontitis have<br />
long been known to be linked to many<br />
chronic illnesses. A large epidemiological<br />
study conducted at the University of Helsinki<br />
examined the predictive value of oral health<br />
for the onset of various chronic diseases<br />
through a 10-year follow-up 1 .<br />
According to the study, a clear link between<br />
periodontal disease and diabetes in particular<br />
was found. No equally strong association<br />
was found between gum diseases and<br />
other common chronic diseases such as<br />
rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel<br />
disease or serious mental illness. However,<br />
in addition to diabetes, periodontitis also<br />
appears to exert less efficient association<br />
with the risk of pre-diabetes, i.e., metabolic<br />
syndrome.<br />
Heart surgeon Tommi Pätilä is one of the one of the developers of the Lumoral method, which has<br />
revolutionised Finnish preventive dental care. Used in addition to regular tooth brushing, Lumoral is<br />
suitable for everyone, but is especially beneficial for those prone to cavities or gingivitis<br />
Because the link between oral health and<br />
diabetes is so evident, the study stated<br />
that the general health and oral health of<br />
patients diagnosed with diabetes should<br />
be considered as a whole to achieve the<br />
best possible treatment outcomes. In fact,<br />
12 DENTAL ASIA JANUARY / FEBRUARY <strong>2023</strong>
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