The Ivory Cross, a leading oral health knowledge institute, is sounding the alarm about the increasing dental problems in the Netherlands. There are alarming reports that there is an upward trend in both children and adults having bad teeth and cavities. According to the institute, it is time for a drastic change.
In recent years, the fallen administration has shown little initiative to address the growing problems in oral health care. These problems risk being declared controversial by the House of Representatives, which could result in another year being lost without appropriate action.
The Ivory Cross advocates for change and calls on political parties to take action. They advocate for an innovative and health-promoting oral health care system and call on political parties to include such proposals in their election programs.
As part of this effort, the Ivory Cross sent a memorandum titled "Taking a closer look at oral health care" to all political parties. This memorandum outlines a pathway to a future where everyone has access to healthy, flawless teeth.
The Ivory Cross stresses the urgency of this issue and calls on politicians to assume their responsibilities. There is no time to lose. Healthy oral health should be a priority for all of us.
Summary of oral health care in more detail
The Ivory Cross, the scientific association within oral health care that focuses on oral disease prevention, warns of an increase in oral health problems in the Netherlands, particularly among children and adults. They identify several causes, including the inaccessibility of good oral health care for people with lower incomes, a shortage of oral health care professionals and a focus on treatment rather than prevention. The association calls on political parties to take these issues into account in their election programs and improve oral health.
A worsening of the oral health in children has been observed, with two in three young people having cavities. Access to oral health care is no longer a given, especially for the less fortunate. Moreover, there is a severe shortage of dentists because previous governments have ignored advice to increase training capacity. This problem is particularly serious for frail elderly people living at home.
The Ivory Cross also calls for changes in the business models of oral care, with a focus on prevention rather than treatments. They also criticize market forces within oral care, which can lead to unnecessary treatments and cost increases.
Prevention of oral diseases, especially in children, is seen as a necessary and urgent concern. The Ivory Cross calls for greater responsibility within the health care system for the collective prevention of oral diseases.
Read the Ivory Cross' full memo here: Taking a closer look at oral health care.