Joint Initiative Promotes Collaboration Between Oral Health Providers and Family Physicians

Perio & Family Doctors Campaign Aims to Enhance Patient Care

Effective collaboration between oral-health providers and family physicians can significantly elevate the quality of patient treatment and overall well-being. A joint initiative, Perio & Family Doctors, developed by the EFP (European Federation of Periodontology) and WONCA Europe (European branch of the World Organisation of Family Doctors), and sponsored by Curasept, emphasises the importance of this synergy. This campaign focuses on improving patient care, particularly concerning chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory diseases, where such collaboration can be life-saving.

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Bridging the Gap in Healthcare

The Perio & Family Doctors campaign addresses a critical need for closer interaction between oral health professionals and general practitioners. It aims to enlighten family doctors about the impact of gum diseases and raise awareness among oral health professionals about non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their associated risk factors. The collaboration intends to lead to proactive strategies for managing prevalent systemic health conditions that affect patients globally, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, smoking, and hyperlipidemia.

EFP President, Darko Bozic, explains, “Together, we can proactively tackle and manage prevalent systemic health conditions that impact patients worldwide. Our campaign is also addressed to the general public, as patients should be aware of the advantages and benefits of good oral health.”

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Recognising the Broader Impact

President of WONCA Europe, Shlomo Vinker, highlights the importance of recognizing the systemic effects of periodontitis. He emphasizes the need for collaboration to detect periodontitis within primary care centers and, conversely, identify cardiovascular diseases and diabetes within dental settings. The partnership between oral health professionals and family doctors plays a pivotal role in the early detection and management of NCDs and fosters healthier lifestyles.

Vinker adds, “Strengthening the bond between oral health professionals and family doctors is instrumental not only in the early detection and management of NCDs but also in fostering healthier lifestyles. The development and evaluation of pathways for early case detection of periodontitis in family medicine practices and NCDs in dental practices marks the next frontier in our collective pursuit of comprehensive healthcare.”

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Promoting Awareness Through Campaign Materials

The Perio & Family Doctors campaign provides a range of materials, including infographics and digital content available on the EFP website at efp.org/periofamilydoctors/. These materials aim to visually and intuitively convey the core messages of the consensus report, which underscores the association between periodontal disease, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and respiratory diseases. The research reveals that severe periodontitis is the sixth most common disease globally and is independently linked to several chronic health conditions.

Giulia Giovannardi, International Business Development Manager at Curasept, says, “Oral care plays an important part in the general wellbeing of a person. For this reason, we are proud to support the research of our scientific partners to advance the level of awareness and treatment of patients.”

The Perio & Family Doctors campaign represents a significant step towards enhancing patient care through collaborative efforts between oral health professionals and family physicians.