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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Chris VernazzaORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to the British Dental Association.Although many dental professionals argue that prevention of oral diseases, including dental caries, will benefit both the patient and public finances, a paradigm shift has yet to happen in most countries. The literature has demonstrated that caries prevention and control is possible, but authorities have yet to implement health systems that allow patients to stay in a good health state. 'Policy Labs' are an innovative policy-making initiative that allow a positive collaboration between the many stakeholders around a given policy issue. In July 2017, 24 international experts, including representatives of both international and European Chief Dental Officers associations, were gathered for the first Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future/King's College London Dental Policy Lab to identify the main barriers for a change, and concrete actions to facilitate a policy shift towards increased resource allocation in prevention. A comprehensive report and well-received infographic summarising the key recommendations (explored in this paper) were produced to explain the situation and highlight the value of a cavity-free world to policymakers, demonstrating where change is needed. The first Dental Policy Lab proved to be an efficient way to generate new ideas and concrete ways to implement them, and has led to several subsequent initiatives worldwide.
Author(s): Vernazza CR, Pitts NB, Mayne C, Mazevet ME
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: British Dental Journal
Year: 2021
Volume: 231
Issue: 12
Pages: 754-758
Print publication date: 17/12/2021
Online publication date: 17/12/2021
Acceptance date: 20/10/2021
Date deposited: 17/01/2022
ISSN (print): 0007-0610
ISSN (electronic): 1476-5373
Publisher: Springer Nature
URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-021-3723-3
DOI: 10.1038/s41415-021-3723-3
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