Minimum Intervention (Ml) Oral Healthcare Delivery Implementation – Overcoming the Hurdles

Abstract

The United Nations Minamata Convention aims to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. In those 55 countries signed up to it to date (the convention came into force in those countries on 16 August 2017), dental caries management has been thrust indirectly into the limelight once again via the resulting phase down and ultimately, phase out of dental amalgam as a restorative material.²⁰ It is interesting how the dental profession has become fixated on the notion of a post-amalgam world, with significant efforts concentrating on trying to develop the perfect amalgam substitute restorative material to be used to 'treat’ caries.

However, on more detailed examination of the treaty, it is abundantly clear that the United Nations and the WHO, at a global level, appreciates the significant concerns over the lack of an appropriate strategy of preventing this most prevalent of non-communicable diseases known to humankind in the modern world.^1–4 Ml oral healthcare is very much now on this global agenda, with developing links between dental caries, general social health determinants and other health and social sectors, and will therefore help drive oral health change with implementation strategies at the population and individual level while also developing sustainable workforce development models globally. Even though minimally invasive surgical skills, procedures and materials need to be developed and taught, the principle consideration should be given as to how “all stakeholders can incite preventive behaviour change in all stakeholders.” This is the biggest challenge in delivering better oral health to current and future generations. The quest continues…