Australasian Dentist Magazine Sept-Oct 2021

Category Australasian Dentist 105 clinical establishment of healthy habits early in life. According to the International Association of Paediatric Dentistry (IAPD) Bangkok declaration 13 , key elements for impacting the prevalence of ECC are: u raising awareness among caregivers, dental professionals and other health care professionals; u avoiding free sugars for children under the age of two and limiting sugar intake in foods and drinks for all children; and u toothbrushing with fluoridated toothpaste, of at least 1000 ppm. For children under the age of three, a smear layer is recommended, and for the age group 3–6, a “pea-size” is the recommendation. The role of fluoridated toothpaste in the preventive work of caries is well established, a fact that is also true regarding the primary dentition. A systematic review and meta-analysis 14 support the use of fluoridated toothpaste for caries prevention in the primary dentition. There was a significant reduction in the mean number of primary decayed, missing owing to caries and filled dental surfaces and teeth in pre-school children using a fluoridated toothpaste with a standard concentration of fluoride, 1000–1500ppm. The same group also had a significantly lower risk of developing dental caries compared to the ones using low-fluoride toothpaste, who showed an increased risk of developing caries 14 . A future challenge A challenge in the future work of preventing caries in children will be to find new ways of working to reduce the existing oral health disparities to ensure that all children have good oral health 15,16 . Children of a young age are dependent on the parents’ level of knowledge and attitude to health interventions, including dental health. Parents in a socially vulnerable environment may need community support in order to establish good dietary, oral hygiene, and fluoride habits as part of preventing diseases of the oral cavity. In socially vulnerable areas, dental and oral health problems can be part of a number of other social problems. Research with the aim to understand the impact of community-based par- ticipatory health-promotional activities performed in a subgroup living in socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods indicates that oral health promotion through reflec- tion and dialogue with the citizens of the community, together with stakeholders may have the potential to influence be- havioural change 16 . To involve primary care teams, including community health workers as a collaborative strategic ap- proach in prevention and control of caries in these young age groups, may be one way to more easily identify children at risk of poorer dental health 2 . Conclusion To conclude, ECC is a disease affecting young children globally and there is an urgent need to further develop strategies to limit this disease and its impact on young children. Factors such as involvement of stakeholders, including the children and their families, education, and raised awareness are central in this work. u For a full list of references contact gapmagazines@optusnet.com.au T he peak body for dentists in NSW and the ACT, the Australian Dental Association New South Wales (ADA NSW), has elected Dr Michael Jonas as its new president. A dentist with more than 40 years’ experience, Dr Jonas was formerly vice- president of the organisation and replaces Dr Kathleen Matthews, whose two-year tenure as president has ended. Dr Jonas, who was voted president by theADANSWCouncil last Friday (October 1), has been a rural-based practitioner for more than 30 years and a long-standing member of ADANSW’s council. He played a key role in the successful introduction of water fluoridation in Gunnedah, where he owned a practice for several years and is chair of ADA NSW’s Filling the Gap charity, which provides pro bono treatment to vulnerable patients. “I am proud and delighted to be ADA NSW President, following in the footsteps of some terrific predecessors,” Dr Jonas, who currently works in private practice in Tamworth, north-west NSW, said. “With about 5000 members across the NSW and ACT, NSW plays a hugely important role in advancing oral health. “Kathleen was a terrific and tireless champion for oral health as president. She led vital advocacy campaigns including highlighting the need for better oral care for older Australians through the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, helping establish ADA NSW’s link with the Indigenous Dentists’ Association of Australia and overseeing the organi­ sation through COVID-19, which con­ tinues to hugely impact dentistry. “I’meager tobuildonher achievements and also help improve access to dentistry for all Australians, especially those in regional and remote areas. “ADA NSW achieved a 96% member- ship retention rate over the financial year 20-21, which underlines how much our members value our services. I look for- ward to supporting them further through my presidency while ensuring more Australians understand the importance of oral health and its connection to overall wellbeing.” Dr Rohan Krishnan, who works in private practice in Sydney and is also Board Director of Filling the Gap, has been elected as the organisation’s new vice-president. Dr Krishnan has been actively involved with the association since graduating with Honours in Dentistry from the University of Sydney in 2013. He is currently an Honorary Clinical Associate Lecturer at the University of Sydney and has contributed to ADA NSW in several leadership roles, including Chair of the ADA NSW Recent Graduates Committee and member of the Advocacy Committee. “Advancing dentistry is huge passion of mine and I am thrilled to have become ADA NSW vice-president,” Dr Krishnan said. “I look forward to working closely with Michael, the ADA NSW Board and staff to further empower our members and help promote the importance of oral health.” u Ada Nsw elects New President and Vice-President