BDA positive after survey results
Representatives from the British Dental Association have welcomed the results of the 2009 Adult Dental Health Survey.
The results of the survey, which is carried out every ten years and provides a general impression of standards of oral health in Wales, England and Northern Ireland, were released yesterday.
The survey found that oral health is improving across the board and shows that more people are visiting their dentist for regular dental check-ups; the study also found that people are keeping their natural teeth for longer and 86 percent of people involved in the survey had at least 21 natural teeth; this was much higher than the 1978 result, which was 74 percent.
Professor Damien Walmsley, from the University of Birmingham and the BDA’s Oral Health Adviser, said that the results of the survey were encouraging. Professor Walmsley said that the survey showed that oral health was improving and people are taking better care of their teeth and gums. Despite the positive results, Professor Walmsley did point out that the survey flagged up some alarming findings, which proved the strength of the link between socioeconomic factors and oral health; there was a significant difference between affluent areas and poorer areas and Wales lagged behind England and Northern Ireland, despite the fact that people tend to visit their dentist more often in Wales.
In light of the findings, Professor Walmsley said that oral healthcare in poorer areas must become a priority for the government. He also stressed the need for continued improvements in general dental care in order to keep up with improving standards of oral health.
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