Global Periodontal Health Project
Gum health is often overlooked during daily oral health routines. Periodontal (gum) diseases including gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and periodontitis (inflammation of the tissue around the teeth, often causing shrinkage of the gums and loosening of the teeth), are among humanity’s most common diseases. Periodontal health is essential to general health and key to securing quality of life and well-being at every stage of life.
‘Severe periodontal diseases are estimated to affect around 19% of the global adult population, representing more than 1 billion cases worldwide.
When left untreated, periodontal disease can cause tooth loss (partial to complete edentulism) and is closely associated with other diseases including diabetes and cardiovascular disease, with which it shares common risk factors, e.g. unhealthy diet and tobacco use.
Periodontal disease has a significant socio-economic impact on governments and populations worldwide, yet it remains a low priority and treatment is still unavailable in many countries.
The road to achieving periodontal health
The Global Periodontal Health Project (GPHP) was launched in October 2015 to reduce the burden of periodontal disease by raising awareness of its impact and engaging the public, oral health and other health professionals, educators, and policymakers in promoting periodontal health.
Project goals
Goal 1
Increase global awareness of periodontal health
Goal 2
Provide tools and resources to help reduce the disease burden and raise the priority of periodontal health at the national level
Goal 3
Integrate oral/periodontal health into policies addressing general health and NCDs by taking a common risk factor approach
Online Disease Profile Assessment Tool
This new online tool helps assess a patient's risk for periodontal disease and categorize the patient's periodontal disease profile as either low, medium or high.
Are my gums ok?
Gum diseases, also known as periodontal diseases, are oral conditions that can be treated effectively if detected early (gingivitis) and managed with proper care.
Symposium
In 2018, the GPHP experts hosted a symposium entitled 'Proactive prevention and effective periodontal care: Major challenges, scientific updates and key issues for success' at the 2018 FDI WDC. Main topics included global periodontal health challenges and related socio-economic impact; the new classification of periodontal and peri-implant disease; effective management of periodontal disease, as well as prevention, diagnosis and treatment; and periodontal care challenges, recommendations, solutions, and future perspectives.
- Proceedings from the 2017 World Oral Health Forum: Global Periodontal Health: Challenges, priorities and perspectives
Global Periodontal Health Project Task Team
The Global Periodontal Health Project Task Team provides guidance and scientific expertise to ensure sound implementation of the Global Periodontal Health Project, which aims to reduce and prevent periodontal (gum) disease worldwide.
The Global periodontal health project is supported by :
