CATEGORY 52 AUSTRALASIAN DENTIST EVENTS The FDI World Dental Federation’s World Dental Congress is a global event that serves as an annual nexus for the international oral health community, fostering connections and unity. To gain a deeper understanding of the core issues facing the dental profession today, we had the privilege of engaging with leading opinion makers and subject matter authorities who presented at the Scienti c Programme of the Congress. ese conversations o er a unique window into the dynamic and evolving world of dentistry, with each speaker providing valuable perspectives on key issues and developments in the eld. FDI WDC Presenter: Prof. Ivan Darby (Australia) Topic: Periodontitis and mental health Your presentation “Periodontitis and mental health” sheds light on the relationship between oral health and mental well-being. Do you think that oral health practitioners often overlook this issue and is it compounded by dentists’ lack of awareness? Yes, possibly patients need to be more aware of this, but dentists and health therapists de nitely should be. Our role as health practitioners extends beyond the mouth, and we must consider the whole body. Many practitioners avoid discussing these topics, but we should address them, not just diabetes, but other co-morbidities as well. I use deliberate language (such as pointing to a person’s weight problem) to provoke reactions and reveal what people are comfortable discussing. ere are established systemic links in literature, but we need Insights from the FDI World Dental Congress 2023 Speakers Through insightful conversations with esteemed Scientific Programme presenters at the globe-trotting event, we explore what resonates with them personally, and in doing so, gain valuable insights into the prevailing factors that shape the world of dentistry. By Danny Chan to overcome our hesitations and talk openly about these issues, including mental health. Traditionally, general practitioners are somewhat aware of these connections, but mental health providers often prioritise the primary issues. While it’s true that for patients with severe mental health problems, concerns like periodontal disease might seem minor, it’s essential not to neglect oral health altogether. Furthermore, patients themselves often lack su cient information about conditions like diabetes and periodontal disease, and this likely extends to mental health issues as well. What advice would you o er the dental community and researchers in exploring this connection? For the dental community, openly discuss mental health with your patients. Don’t shy away from these conversations; patients appreciate it. For researchers, delve deeper into the mechanisms, such as the oral and gut microbiomes. Explore possible avenues of treatment, like managing in ammation. FDI WDC Presenter: A/Prof. Geoffrey Young (Australia) Topic: Seeing around corners – the role of Cone Beam CT imaging in endodontic diagnosis and treatment planning What emerging trends or innovations have you observed that could enhance CBCT utility in endodontics in the coming years? I believe what we’re going to witness is the increasing prevalence of CBCT technology in specialist endodontic practice. However, a factor that has been somewhat hindering us is the consensus statement issued by the American Association of Endodontists and Oral Maxillofacial Radiologists. While this statement dates back to 2016, it still in uences our approach. eir recommendation is cautious, asserting that the riskto-bene t ratio for routine use as a screening tool remains relatively high. Instead, they advise us to exercise individual judgment regarding its application in treatment planning. e challenge we face is that quantifying the bene ts to the patient is challenging until you’ve seen the imaging because you can’t discern what you might have otherwise missed. Over the past few years, the medical eld, particularly radiology, has seen a growing chorus of voices emphasising that all radiation
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