IADR and AADR applaud the Lancet Oral Health Series

Abstract

The International Association for Dental Research (IADR) and the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) applaud the authors of the Oral Health Series from The Lancet.1Peres MA Macpherson LMD Weyant RJ et al.Oral diseases: a global public health challenge.Lancet. 2019; 394: 249-260Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (950) Google Scholar, 2Watt RG Daly B Allison P et al.Ending the neglect of global oral health: time for radical action.Lancet. 2019; 394: 261-272Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (280) Google Scholar This Series is an excellent compilation of global epidemiological data on the health and economic burden of oral diseases, the social and commercial determinants of oral diseases, and the neglect of oral diseases in global health policies. An accompanying Comment by Cristin Kearns and Lisa Bero3Kearns CE Bero LA Conflicts of interest between the sugary food and beverage industry and dental research organisations: time for reform.Lancet. 2019; 394: 194-196Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (15) Google Scholar called for reform on how conflicts of interest are managed between the sugar-containing food and beverage industry and dental research organisations. Kearns and Bero incorrectly referred to the IADR and AADR as having these conflicts of interest. Conflicts of interest exist if there is a bias about the research agenda and how research is designed, conducted, and published. As membership-based associations, the IADR and AADR do not have a specific research agenda and are not major funders of research. In fact, the IADR and AADR have long histories of advancing research for dental public health, proactively managing our corporate relationships, and addressing the health effect of sugar-sweetened beverages.4International Association for Dental ResearchIADR applauds the Lancet series on oral health, addresses commentary.http://www.iadr.org/IADR/About-Us/News/ArtMID/132983/ArticleID/719/IADR-Applauds-the-Lancet-Series-on-Oral-Health-Addresses-CommentaryDate: July 24, 2019Date accessed: July 30, 2019Google Scholar Our flagship Journal of Dental Research has published numerous studies on caries and the global burden of oral disease that form much of the scientific base for the Lancet Series, including the systematic review on restricting the intake of sugars that informed the WHO guideline.5Moynihan PJ Kelly SAM Effect on caries of restricting sugars intake: systematic review to inform WHO guidelines.J Dent Res. 2014; 93: 8-18Crossref PubMed Scopus (538) Google Scholar We commend The Lancet for this Oral Health Series that will promote the importance of oral diseases being addressed as part of primary health care and universal health coverage along with other non-communicable diseases. PM has received personal fees from the European Food Safety Authority, and her university has received consultancy fees from GlaxoSmithKline, unrelated to this Correspondence. WVG has received personal fees from the IADR and the AADR as Editor-in-Chief of the Associations' journal and from Colgate-Palmolive, during the writing of this Correspondence. All other authors declare no competing interests. Oral diseases: a global public health challengeOral diseases are among the most prevalent diseases globally and have serious health and economic burdens, greatly reducing quality of life for those affected. The most prevalent and consequential oral diseases globally are dental caries (tooth decay), periodontal disease, tooth loss, and cancers of the lips and oral cavity. In this first of two papers in a Series on oral health, we describe the scope of the global oral disease epidemic, its origins in terms of social and commercial determinants, and its costs in terms of population wellbeing and societal impact. Full-Text PDF IADR and AADR applaud the Lancet Oral Health Series – Authors' replyOn behalf of all coauthors of the Lancet Oral Health Series1,2 and the accompanying Comment,3 we welcome the Correspondence from the leadership of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) and the American Association for Dental Research (AADR). We are all proud IADR members and appreciate that the leadership of these organisations highly values the advancement of dental public health research. The new policies of the IADR and AADR, including divestment of sugar-sweetened beverage companies from their investment portfolios, are indeed important models for other institutions and associations. Full-Text PDF