The world's experience of introducing prophylactic programs in dentistry
Authors: Ulitovskiy S. B. , Orekhova L. Yu. , Kalinina O. V. , Leontev A. A. , Loboda E. S. 
Published: April 2024

Relevance. The oral health of the global population is fundamentally influenced by the incidence and severity of dental caries and periodontal diseases. To combat these issues, developed nations devise and execute preventive programs, tailoring their efforts to address the DEF (Decayed, Extracted, and Filled teeth) index across various age demographics. This approach signifies a paradigm shift, with governments now prioritizing the support of oral health through the introduction of comprehensive preventive strategies aimed at combating prevalent oral diseases. The efficacy of these programs, however, hinges on the occurrence of dental caries and, by extension, the availability of oral health professionals. This availability, in turn, shapes the landscape of health facilities—whether public or private—determining their ability to cater to community needs for oral health services. Consequently, the capacity to implement preventive measures is gauged against these dynamics. Furthermore, the nature and scope of preventive actions within these programs vary from one country to another, influenced primarily by the allocation of healthcare budgets by respective governments.

Materials and methods. Analysis of scientific articles and original research from the PubMed, ResearchGate, ScienceDirect for the last 10 years. The search was carried out by keywords: dental prevention programs in the world, prevention of dental health, organization of preventive care in the world. An examination of research articles and original papers was conducted, drawing from databases such as PubMed, ResearchGate, and ScienceDirect over the last decade. The search employed specific key phrases, including "dental prevention programs worldwide", "dental health prevention", and "global organization of preventive dental care".

Results. The initial advancement towards the creation and implementation of fluoride prophylaxis programs occurred following the discovery of fluoride's presence in water. A pivotal moment occurred in 1949 at Indiana State University when J.C. Muhler introduced the idea of fluoride toothpaste (specifically sodium fluoride) as a means to combat dental caries in children. Subsequent innovations included the use of silver fluoride for argentation. European countries took a holistic approach, emphasizing oral hygiene, fluoride toothpaste usage, and balanced nutrition. Meanwhile, the US and EU shifted towards a preventive approach within health insurance frameworks. A critical factor influencing the effectiveness of these preventive care programs is the availability of oral health professionals per 10,000 people in the population, alongside social workers advocating for healthy living and oral health. The engagement of more oral health professionals in preventive efforts correlates with a reduction in the incidence and severity of common oral diseases.

Conclusion. The six stages of preventive care development and transformation highlight the evolving trends in global dentistry, which are crucial for ensuring the quality of oral health care across different countries. The effectiveness of these programs in individual nations is contingent upon the specific preventive care.