Geneva, 31 May 2005 - The FDI World Dental Federation and the World
Health Organization are today launching a jointly developed guide for dentists
and dental associations. They do this to mark today's World No Tobacco Day
dedicated to the role of health professionals in tobacco control.
Tobacco-induced oral diseases contribute significantly to the global oral
disease burden. Tobacco is a risk factor for oral cancer, adult periodontal
diseases, and congenital defects such as cleft lip and palate in children
whose mother smokes during pregnancy. Tobacco use suppresses the immune system's
response to oral infection, retards healing following oral surgical and accidental
wounding, promotes periodontal degeneration in diabetics and adversely affects
the cardiovascular system. The dentist and the dental team are important key
persons in tobacco prevention and may use the numerous effects of tobacco
on oral health in motivating patients to quit use of tobacco.
"It is my sincere hope that this guide for dentists and oral health professional
organisations will be helpful in increasing awareness and in facilitating
tangible engagement in tobacco control on the individual patient level as
well as in the broader political context. The FDI is prepared to assist and
support this process wherever possible" said Dr JT Barnard, Executive
Director of the FDI on the occasion.
Prof Poul Erik Petersen, Chief of the Oral Health Unit at WHO Headquarters
in Geneva, emphasised that "the oral health team worldwide play an important
role in preventing that children and adolescents adopt the use of tobacco
- either in the form of smoking or chewing tobacco. Oral health professionals
and dental associations worldwide are encouraged to use the WHO policies such
as the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control for their future work and design
national prevention projects jointly with health authorities."
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The advocacy guide is available from the websites of the FDI and the WHO:
www.who.int/oral_health
http://www.fdiworldental.org
Technical contact
Prof Poul Erik Petersen
Chief, Oral Health Programme
World Health Organization
1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
Tel: +41-22-791-3475
Email: petersenpe@who.int
Dr. Habib Benzian, Development & Public Health Manager
FDI World Dental Federation
13, chemin du Levant,
L'Avant Centre
F-01210 Ferney Voltaire, France
Tel: +33 (0) 4 50 40 50 50
E-mail: hbenzian@fdiworldental.org
Website: www.fdiworldental.org
Media contact
Prof Poul Erik Petersen
Chief, Oral Health Programme
World Health Organization
1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
Tel: +41-22-791-3475
Email: petersenpe@who.int
Mrs Charlotte Nackstad, FDI Communications Manager
E-mail: cnackstad@fdiworldental.org
FDI World Dental Federation
13, chemin du Levant,
L'Avant Centre
F-01210 Ferney Voltaire, France
Fax: +33 (0) 4 50 40 55 55
Tel: +33 (0) 4 50 40 50 50