According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 3.5 billion people worldwide are affected by various oral diseases. Among them, around 500 million children suffer from decay in their primary teeth, while approximately 2 billion people experience caries in their permanent teeth. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, affects about 1 billion individuals globally. The interconnection between periodontal diseases and other systemic conditions is significant, with implications for pregnancy complications and bacterial transmission from infected mothers to their offspring, and implications for other body systems. The prevalence of these diseases is particularly high in middle-income countries. An in-depth analysis of 24 critical nations facing maternal and child health challenges, along with oral health issues, reveals common themes among them (see chart and table). a. Inadequate investment in oral healthcare. b. Limited access to affordable fluoride toothpaste and oral care products for children. c. Lack of infrastructure for regular preventive oral healthcare. d. Insufficient curative oral healthcare facilities. e. Shortage of dental professionals, including dentists, dental assistants, dental hygienists, and support staff. f. Absence of advanced oral healthcare clinics. g. Scarcity of rehabilitative advanced oral healthcare centers. These countries collectively suffer significant losses in productivity due to oral diseases. According to the WHO's 2022 data, India has incurred a productivity loss of $7,249 million, Nigeria $835 million, Mali $35 million, Bangladesh $3,213 million, Kenya $191 million, Zambia $42 million, Ghana $161 million, Rwanda $20 million, Malawi $13 million, Nepal $54 million, Pakistan $617 million, Tanzania $114 million, Democratic Republic of the Congo $96 million, Madagascar $27 million and Ethiopia $182 million. Similarly, other productivity losses include Senegal $60 million, Liberia $7.9 million, Haiti $21 million, South Sudan $7.2 million, Uganda $65 million, Yemen $46 million, Mozambique $25 million and Afghanistan $37 million. Pulled together is about 13 billion across these 24 nations in productivity loss. These substantial losses could potentially boost the economies of these nations and enhance overall health outcomes. The investment required for eradicating oral health burdens and their systemic implications is more cost-effective than the productivity and life losses, as well as the negative impact on children's education worldwide. These investments will further establish robust health systems and digital health infrastructures that facilitate seamless overall health care delivery, ensuring that oral health care services are integrated harmoniously with other sectors of the healthcare system. Neglecting investments in global and oral health can lead to costly consequences, impacting national economies, quality of life, prenatal health, child development, and education initiatives, and even loss of life. The global burden of oral disease is undeniable, and prioritizing oral health, especially its systemic implications, is crucial for the growth and prosperity of nations.

Oral health Impacts on Systemic Diseases These changes are driven by a growing understanding of the systemic effects of oral diseases, for example (Cardiovascular-Stroke, Endocrine-Diabetes Reproductive-Pregnancy, Respiratory-COPD, Kidney diseases, autoimmune diseases-rheumatoid arthritis, and Cognitive diseases-Alzheimer's). Systemic diseases can also manifest within the oral tissues.. Recognizing the links between oral health and overall health allows for early detection and intervention, leading to more comprehensive care. Increasing multi-disciplinary cooperation among various specialties. Furthermore, advancements in treatment modalities and the collaboration between different medical specialties will enhance the efficiency and quality of care provided. This integrated approach will streamline the patient experience, maximizing the effectiveness of each hospital visit and reducing wasteful practices in healthcare delivery. Technology, health systems, digital health and artificial intelligence Improvements in provider communication, facilitated by real-time electronic databases and cloud-based charting systems, will enhance coordination between healthcare professionals. Digital technologies are set to play a more significant role in healthcare than ever before, breaking down geographical barriers and fostering global collaboration in medical research and treatment. Telehealth, Teledentistry, and Digitalization. Telecare services, teledentistry, and personalized healthcare approaches, as well as multinational integration of insurance services, are all on the horizon. Dental providers must embrace digitalization and commit to ongoing education Saliva Diagnostics As saliva diagnostics and point-of-care devices become more sophisticated, dentists will have new tools to assess patients' overall health. This holistic approach to healthcare will transform the patient experience, offering more than just routine dental procedures and providing valuable insights into their medical well-being. Dentistry, other Specialties and Mental Health Dentist must open to know more about related medical specialties. For example, the changes in mental health behaviors and impacts of mental health medications on oral health delivery. Solving the Global Health and Oral Health Burden Health systems need to be restructured and integrated to streamline the delivery of medical and dental ensuring comprehensive access for patients. Intentional efforts must be made to dismantle obstacles. Patients should not be viewed as mere teeth or isolated health concerns, but rather as individuals deserving of holistic care. #OralHealth #SystemicHealth #GlobalHealthcare #Dentistry #OralDiseases #MultidisciplinaryCare #HealthTechnology #DigitalHealth #Telehealth #Teledentistry #SalivaDiagnostics #MentalHealth #HolisticHealthcare #GlobalHealthBurden #HealthcareIntegration #PreventiveCare #PatientCare #HealthcareInnovation