At the 1st National Congress of the Dental Friends Association, the importance of preventive dentistry will be discussed.

The Dental Friend Association and Istanbul Atlas University will organize the 1st National Congress of the Dental Friend Association on October 19-20, 2024. The President of the Dental Friend Association, Dentist Engin Aksoy, stated, “According to research, the per capita toothpaste consumption in our country lags far behind that of developed countries. A natural consequence of this is that we encounter dental caries at a very young age, and by the time we reach our 50s, we have lost almost half of our teeth. To prevent this, in addition to instilling awareness of dental care and regular dental check-ups in society, we aim to integrate a preventive dentistry perspective into the early careers of young dentists. Thus, we are holding our 1st National Congress in collaboration with Atlas University on October 19-20, 2024, with participation from across Turkey.”

The university will host an important congress. The Dental Friend Turkey Association, which has organized numerous activities for oral and dental health in Turkey for many years, will hold the Dental Friend 1st National Congress in collaboration with Istanbul Atlas University on October 19-20, 2024, at the Atlas University Valley Campus. The congress, which has published its scientific program and which focuses on the main theme of Preventive Dentistry, will welcome participation from Dental Faculties, Dental Clinics, Dentists, and Dental Students from all over Turkey.

We are concerned about our oral health

President of the Dental Friend Association, Dentist Engin Aksoy, pointed out that 14% of our country’s population has never visited a dentist in their lifetime and that toothpaste usage is only one-fourth that of developed countries. He stated, “Research shows that as a country, we do not give our teeth the attention they deserve. In developed countries, annual toothpaste consumption exceeds 400 grams, whereas in our country it is only 110 grams. In developed countries, the annual toothbrush consumption is 4, while in our country it is not even 1. This means a person may change their toothbrush once every two years. However, according to hygiene rules, a toothbrush should be changed every 3 months. When we look at diseases, we encounter caries as children. However, according to the Turkey Oral and Dental Health report published by the World Health Organization in 2022, 48% of children aged 1-9 have untreated caries, which return to us as gum inflammation, numerous problems in oral and dental health, tooth loss, and many systemic diseases. Research shows that by the time we reach 50, we have lost almost half of our teeth for these reasons. This is a very serious number. Our teeth are not only useful when we smile. They represent us when we talk, eat, laugh, and maintain our presence in social life. Again, according to the Global Strategy and Action Plan on Oral Health published by the World Health Organization in May 2024, oral diseases are among the most common non-communicable diseases worldwide. Our oral and dental health should not be evaluated separately from our overall bodily health. Inflammation that starts in our mouth invites various diseases in many parts of our body. Therefore, preventive dentistry is now more important than ever, and the lack of awareness in society about oral and dental health creates a public health problem.”

The congress features many noteworthy topics from cancer pre-diagnosis to antibiotic usage

Prof. Dr. Tosun Tosun, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, stated that the Dental Friend 1st National Congress is being held in collaboration with Istanbul Atlas University, saying, “We are proud to host this congress, which has a rich scientific content covering interesting topics aimed at dentists and dental students, such as oral health and hygiene, dental caries and prevention methods, antibiotic use in terms of oral health, oral health examinations, and cancer pre-diagnosis. I wish success for the 1st National Dental Friend Congress, which marks a new beginning in the goal of creating a healthy future generation of society.”

Our teeth are organs too

Dentist Remzi Ülgen stated that health is a whole and starts from the mouth, saying, “Dental caries are accepted in childhood, but untreated dental caries increase in parallel with the rise of sugary diets during primary school years. By the end of primary school, an average of 3 teeth has decayed, and by the end of high school, about 10 teeth will have decayed. Therefore, habits for oral and dental care need to be instilled in kindergarten. Among those who do not develop this habit during preschool, only 20% manage to acquire it later. The remaining 80% do not brush their teeth or only brush when they remember. For policymakers who operate under the assumption that dental diseases are not fatal or disabling, dental health is often viewed as less important and is kept in the background. However, when it comes to dental health and diseases, the second and third levels of care, which are treatment and rehabilitation, can become much more expensive. For example, a tooth is an organ that needs to be replaced. In cases of deficiency, difficulties in speaking and eating may arise; in more advanced stages, erosion and dislocation of the jawbone may occur. Yet, preventive healthcare services are the cheapest and easiest to provide. This service needs to be widespread. The Dental Friend Association has taken and continues to take significant steps in this regard.”