High-Risk Children Need Dental Programs that Work

ODA teams up with international experts and stakeholders to design road map for better dental care

MEDIA RELEASE
July 4, 2008

Colour PDF version

Metro Toronto Convention Centre, ON – The Ontario Dental Association (ODA) will team up with international experts and stakeholders today to design a road map for better childhood dental care at home and abroad.

“Children deserve the very best start in life,” said ODA President Dr. Larry Levin. “We have a responsibility to ensure that every child gets access to a comprehensive program that will see them through to their adult years. They deserve nothing but clean, happy, healthy mouths – and we are going to help them get there.”

The symposium sponsored by the ODA at the International Association of Dental Research (IADR) Conference entitled, “Designing Dental Programs for High-Risk Children,” was chosen by the IADR’s dental caries group from several submissions and will hear experts on subjects including:

• Dr. Clive Friedman, Canada – Defining the high-risk population
• Dr. Nigel Pitts, Scotland – The Value of Early Caries (cavities) Detection Enabling Preventative Therapies in Dentistry
• Dr. John Featherstone, United States - The Role of Fluoride in Prevention of Caries (cavities)
• Dr. Ian McConnachie, Canada – Dental Programs that Address the Needs of Children/Applying New Ideas and Program Design to Ontario Government Sponsored Dental Programs

“What we have clearly isn’t working here in Ontario or in many places for that matter,” said ODA Past-President Dr. Ian McConnachie. “So this symposium is a great opportunity to work to fix it. This collaborative effort between the experts, stakeholders and the ODA is going to lay out a road map and we are going to make it better – the kids here and everywhere deserve that.”

The ODA Symposium which runs Friday, July 4, is separated into three segments:

• Expert presentations - 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
• Stakeholder roundtable – to gather input and share experiences - 10:50 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• Expert reassembly – to start to put together recommendations and road map for better care - 1:15 p.m.

“Today is a responsible start for the children of this province,” said Dr. Levin. “We have a lot of work to do, but I am proud we are a part of this important discussion.”