The longest-running Italian initiative dedicated to prevention restarts from the importance of the relationship between dentist and patient as a key element to fuel attention to prevention, supporting and promoting it. This is the central theme of the 42nd Month of Dental Prevention, the result of the consolidated partnership between Andi, the National Association of Italian Dentists, and Mentadent, a brand of the Unilever group.
In order to test the confidence of Italians in the dentist, the Study Center of the National Association of Italian Dentists commissioned a survey from Eumetra, the results of which were presented today in Milan on the occasion of the inaugural day of the initiative. The over 24 months of pandemic have had a negative impact on the habits of Italians in terms of prevention and treatment, also in relation to oral health, diluting access to dental offices and consequently “cooling” the doctor-patient relationship. However, in the post-pandemic, as shown by the Eumetra research data, the dentist is the most trusted professional figure (70%) after the specialist doctor (79%) and almost on a par with the general practitioner (69 %). A fact that bodes well, especially if we consider that during the early stages of the pandemic about one third of Italians turned to their dentist only for “emergencies” compared to just over a quarter of visits for routine checks.
“The photograph that Eumetra research returns to us highlights the importance of the issue of trust between dentist and patient – comments Maria Grazia Cagetti, associate professor at the University of Milan, director of the School of Specialization in Pediatric Dentistry – A ‘ positive and pleasant experience is the most important and main factor in the choice of the specialist, even more than concrete and practical factors related to costs or comfort in reaching the office. This shows that there can be no prevention without relationship ”.
Thanks to its more than 10 thousand volunteers, over a million visits and thousands of consultations, guaranteed by Andi dentists, the month of dental prevention therefore wants to bring the relationship back to the heart of the concept of prevention, focusing on the strength of the territory and reiterating the importance synergies with general practitioners and primary care pediatricians, with a view to all-round prevention.
“The month of dental prevention is a unique initiative of its kind, not only for its longevity, but also for its constant attention to the evolution of citizens’ needs – explains Carlo Ghirlanda, national Andi president – We believe in the power of prevention always, but today more than ever, veterans of over two years of the pandemic, we know that this cannot exist without synergies, first of all with general practitioners and general practitioners, who are crucial in creating a bridge with specialists and with both national and local institutions, so that prevention can be truly widespread throughout the territory “.
In recent years, following the evolution of the habits of the population, also in terms of information and communication, the month of dental prevention has worked precisely on proximity, bringing the dentist closer to the patient, also through the use of social networks. “The month of dental prevention has always worked on two parallel tracks – explains Luca Barzagli, head of the Mdpd edition 2022 – On the one hand, our commitment is strongly aimed at helping the population to access dental practices more easily, reducing, where present and where possible, inequalities on the territory. On the other hand, we have always encouraged and concretely supported the dentist so that he can become an increasingly ‘close’ figure to the patient, also through the presence on social networks and the use of fresher and more captivating languages ”.
Once again, the data show greater attention to oral health issues: the attitude towards dental care and aesthetics is decidedly more positive and returns to the pre-lockdown level with 78% of respondents declaring themselves available to giving up other expenses in order to cure mouth pain, to solve chewing problems (58%) or to carry out aesthetic treatments (16%). If the data show evidence of the phenomenon in its complex use, a declaration of intent comes from the individual specialists so that relationship and prevention are cultivated in daily practice.
“Empathy is the basis of the work of the dentist – underlines Marco Colombo, scientific director Andi – The creation of a relationship of knowledge and trust with the patient, whether it is an adult or a child, is the necessary prerequisite because there is continuous prevention and regular checks. Of course, of all specialists, the dentist is the one most often associated with pain, but this is an outdated view. Today dentistry can make use of advanced, innovative and above all painless techniques. Furthermore, prevention really means avoiding having to run for cover. Starting checks early and planning them regularly means avoiding more invasive and complex interventions. The dentist’s task is also to communicate with the patient and inform him about all these aspects “.
The holistic vision of prevention has always been one of the cornerstones of the month of dental prevention which – even in its 42nd edition – focuses attention on the health of the mouth as the gateway to a 360-degree well-being of the person. “There are three pillars that have guided the birth and evolution of this now historic project – concludes Cristiano Gallotta, head of Oral Care Unilever Italy – The belief that dental prevention is the” mother “of all prevention, the most immediate, the simplest, the only one that can be started and which makes sense to learn to apply from an early age; the importance and strategic value of synergies and partnerships, at various levels, with the actors who are involved in various ways in prevention: among others, the general practitioner, primary care pediatricians, local institutions that allow proximity, that presence, that territorial proximity without which the project could not reach the entire population on the territory; and finally, the flexibility and the ability to interpret changes, to grasp the evolution of needs, languages, interactions: the month of dental prevention is today one of the most important and deeply rooted Italian initiatives in the field of prevention, a tool powerful to spread this message and this culture because it has been able to evolve and meet new challenges. We are strongly motivated to continue to do so and to be able to continue along this path alongside Andi for a long time ”.
#42nd #edition #dental #prevention #month #Mentadent #Andi #starting