With oral diseases affecting people of all ages in every country of the world, new approaches are necessary to remove inequalities in oral health and increase access to oral health education. With over 1 billion children attending school, developing dental leadership skills not only in dental professionals but also in schoolteachers will help to spread oral health prevention messages effectively, implement healthy habits at a young age and impact a greater proportion of the global population to improve their oral health.
GBD. 2016Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 328 diseases and injuries for 195 countries, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Lancet. 2017; 390: 1211–1259.
2.
AllukianM Jr.The neglected epidemic and the surgeon general’s report: a call to action for better oral health. Am J Public Health. 2008; 98(Suppl 1): S82–S85.
3.
PetersenPEBourgeoisDOgawaHEstupinan-DaySNdiayeC. The global burden of oral diseases and risks to oral health. Bull World Health Organ. 2005; 83: 661–669.
4.
ListlSGallowayJMosseyPAMarcenesW. Global economic impact of dental diseases. J Dent Res. 2015; 94: 1355–1361.
5.
LomazziMWordleyVBediR. Dental public health capacity worldwide: results of a global survey. J Public Health Policy. 2016; 37: 528–542.
6.
Pegon-MachatEFaulksDEatonKAWidströmEHuguesPTubert-JeanninS. The healthcare and provision of oral healthcare in European Union member states: France. Br Dent J. 2016; 220: 197–203.
7.
United Nations Publication Division. World Population Prospects: The 2002 Revision. New York: United Nations;2003.
8.
WattRDalyBAllisonPMacphersonLMDVenturelliRListlS, et al. Ending the neglect of global oral health: time for radical action. Lancet. 2019; 394: 261–272.
9.
BediRWordleyV. Education and training for dental leadership: a case study of Senior Dental Leadership programme. J Dent. 2019; 87: 36–39.
10.
KwanSYPetersenPEPineCMBoruttaA. Health-promoting schools: an opportunity for oral health promotion. Bull World Health Organ. 2005; 83: 677–685.
