Dental Tribune US Edition, Vol. 5, No. 19

Members corner: Dr. Stuart Johnson In this issue of WDC, we are pleased to have FDI Dental Prac- tice Committee and Dental Amalgam Task Team (DATT) member, Dr Stu- art Johnston discuss his involvement with FDI World Dental Federation and share his vision for oral health. As a practicing dentist, what made you decide to devote your time to addressing issues affecting dental practice at an international level? I initially became involved with organized dentistry at the local level because I was dissatisfied with the system of dentistry in the UK. After some time, I became Chairman of the local body and went on to repre- sent the UK at the national level. People gave me jobs to do and I didn’t say “no”. I enjoyed it … I enjoyed learning and actively mak- ing a better future for myself and colleagues in UK. “Accidently” I had the opportunity to attend the FDI Congress in New Delhi, in 2004, as a representative of the British Dental Association. I wasn’t sure what to make of it at first, it seemed very complex. But after this experience, I reflect- ed on the opportunities FDI involve- ment presented and quite liked it— the complexity of it, it was something completely new, I wanted to under- stand FDI, what we could do, how I could help raise the profile of my home association there. There is a symbiotic relationship, representing BDA at FDI and bring- ing benefits back to dentists in the UK. You were recently invited to join FDI Dental Amalgam Task Team (DATT). What is the rationale behind the formation of DATT? It is fascinating work—the way these colleagues have communicated with one another around the world, all cooperating, and the quality of debate is superb. The FDI Council mandated that a Dental Amalgam Task Team (DATT) be established to ensure that the international dental com- munity and issues regarding dental amalgam were properly and accu- rately represented in United Nations discussions regarding mercury and would be based on the best available science. For details see UNEP Intergov- ernmental Negotiating Commit- tee www.unep.org/hazardoussub- stances/Mercury/Negotiations/INC1/ tabid/3324/language/en-US/Default. aspx The DATT consists of a repre- sentative from each of the FDI stand- ing committees, three Council rep- resentatives and where required be supplemented with subject matter experts. Where does the DATT stand now and what role does it play in FDI overall mission? At the UNEP meeting in Stockholm, 7–11 June 2010, I was privileged to represent FDI Dental Amalgam Task Team. This meeting saw a continua- tion of the process begun in Novem- ber and we had the opportunity to lobby delegates to our position to avoid an all-out amalgam ban. DATT is looking to develop information for member NDAs to take back to their countries to communicate with their governments directly. It will be governments who vote on this, so we require a team effort to achieve the desired result. In regards to dental amalgam, it is not a health issue because the dental profession has a significant body of evidence that the use of amalgam as a restorative material is safe with respect to human health. However it is the broader considerations with regards to mercury that the intergov- ernmental negotiating committee is addressing. Is FDI developing a position on environmental waste? We must be seen as doing everything we can, including: For more than a decade, the FDI’s World Dental Development Fund (WDDF) has made a differ- ence to the lives of disadvantaged people in many places around the globe through its support of oral health education and outreach pro- grammes. Established in 1998, the World Dental Development Fund aims to improve oral health primarily in disadvantaged populations through education, oral health promotion, disease prevention and primary health care. The variety of projects that are funded highlights different approaches to better oral health in contrasting settings. Current proj- ects range from capacity building in Africa, to improv-ing oral health in rural India, through to integrat- ing oral health in primary health care in northern Pakistan, and oral cancer awareness and HIV/AIDS awareness training for dentists in Latin America. The World Dental Development and Health Promotion Commit- tee, the body responsible for the management of the World Den- tal Development Fund within FDI, recently completed a project in Cambodia. Here, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis is one of the highest in South-East Asia. Due to the lack of established standards and training materials regarding infection control for dental person- nel, the Cambodian Dental Associa- tion proposed a project to develop a national cross infection control programme in collaboration with the World Health Organisation. The successful completion of this project has benefitted the dental team and the entire Cambodian population. A training manual on cross-infection control (CIC) for dental practitioners has been devel- oped. Also, as a result of this proj- ect, knowledge and behaviour of dentists in relation to infections has improved. The World Dental Development Fund accepts applications on a continuous basis. To improve oral health and oral health care ser- vices in developing countries, edu- cational projects delivered in col- laboration with governmental, non governmental agencies and indi- viduals, and supported by the FDI member association are encour- aged. The numerous applications received from community organisa- tions and initiatives highlights the enormous need for effective oral health programmes. FDI invites well-wishers to support this very important work by making dona- tions to the WDDF, so that we are able to expand and sustain the funds successful activities. For more information: www.fdiworldental. org/es/node/109. FDI Dr. Stuart Johnson • Make sure all waste is collect- ed properly in dental surgery and properly disposed of and recycled wherever possible, to avoid contami- nation • Move away from bulk mercury, which can be misappropriated for small scale gold mining, towards capsule mercury, which avoids spill- age. What does the FDI World Dental Federation offer to the dentist? The world is changing and FDI helps us to understand this change at inter- national or global level. For exam- ple, amalgam is prime issue. FDI can represent this at the world level for the dental profession. Another exam- ple is GCI and how it fits together, there is serendipity—the strategy for dealing with caries sees a reduction in need for amalgam. There is a huge opportunity to Spotlight on World Dental Development Fund g FDI page 13A (Photo/FDI WDDF)

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