Oral and Dental Health

In preliminary meetings with leaders in oral health across Canada, IMHA Scientific Director, Professor Karim Khan is listening. He is hearing that Oral and Craniofacial Health (OCH) is an imperative element of a healthy Canada. OCH contributes to overall systemic health. IMHA researchers address more than tooth decay, periodontal disease, and oral cancer. They also aim to reduce the contribution of oral and dental conditions to diseases such as diabetes, cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular health issues. In the words of the FDI World Dental Federation, “there is no health without oral health.”

Canadians are living longer

Oral health is essential to the general health and wellbeing of Canadians, who, are living longer and retaining more of their natural teeth. These are welcome trends but they result in new patterns of oral disease that pose significant challenges for oral health care. With input from researchers, clinicians and patient advocates across the country, IMHA is re-evaluating the 2014-18 strategic plan and asking the oral and craniofacial community for input via upcoming town halls, digital surveys and social media channels. Have thoughts on this? Email the IMHA team at IMHA-IALA@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

Dental health data collection

The last oral health component of the Canadian Health Measures Survey, took place between 2007 – 2009, and provided national primary data on the oral health status of Canadians aged 6 -79. This information has guided workforce training, dental public health program planning and public policy development for the last decade. Dr. James Taylor, Chief Dental Officer of Canada, contends that there is a dearth of comprehensive public clinical data in oral health, and no extant federal strategy by which to periodically gather it. Nearly all oral health care is private (even publicly funded oral health care, most of which takes place in private clinics), and it is not added to public data systems like the Canadian Institute of Health Information (CIHI). Given the relation between oral health and common risk factors such as nutrition, environment and social determinants, accurate and current oral health data are essential to any comprehensive approach to improving and maintaining the health of Canadians.

Identifying oral health priorities

Professor Khan encourages oral health leaders to identify the most important priorities in oral and craniofacial research and ultimately dental health of Canadians. To date, he has been in conversations with the Professor Paul Allison (Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry, ACFD), Patrick Flood (Canadian Association of Dental Research, CADR), Alain Moreau (Network for Canadian Oral Health Research – NCOHR) and Dr. James Taylor (Chief Dental Officer of Canada). Professor Jeffrey Dixon has agreed to serve on the IMHA Institute Advisory Board (IAB). Professor Khan looks forward to working with the community of dental organizations and stakeholders across the country to promote research, knowledge translation and implementation to benefit the oral and craniofacial health of all Canadians.

Date modified:

2018-05-25