As a step to ignite worldwide change for oral health, 3M welcomed professionals and policy makers from around the world to the first-ever Oral Health Council on Nov. 28-30 at the 3M Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minn.
The meeting served as a forum for industry leaders from Chile, China, Bolivia, Colombia, the United Kingdom, Peru, Russia, and the United States to share the challenges their countries face in delivering care to patients. Attendees learned from industry experts about preventive science innovations, how to better care for elderly, special needs and pediatric patients, and how to implement effective policy for oral health.
Attendees walked away from the meeting with solid action plans to improve oral health in their communities.
“Governments are instrumental in influencing the standard for healthcare, so people with a voice must advocate for change—even if it starts small at first” said Simon Hearne, international vice president for 3M Oral Care. “As a global industry leader, 3M is taking the responsibility to help people who can inspire change create a network that will aid them in promoting preventive oral care within their communities.”
The council lasted for three days. At the conclusion, the council members presented individual action plans to implement in their countries. The plans were developed with three goals in mind: to share, to unite, and to advocate.
As members of the Oral Health Council, each country will share best practices, activities, and data with each other while aiming to unite procedures, protocols, and standards. The council members know that oral health is a human right, and will use their influence to pave the way for improved oral health in their countries.
Each country is using the first year following the council meeting to increase basic coverage in school-aged children to set them on a trajectory for good overall health. While these pilot programs are implemented at a community level, council members will work toward three-year and five-year programs to grow territory coverage and reach vulnerable populations including elderly, pregnant, and special needs patients.
3M said it was keeping in touch with council members, and will work to keep the dental community updated as the plans unfold in each country. The company also said it plans to continue this global initiative, and looks forward to the impact this council will have on the future of worldwide oral health.
