CV
Michael Dodds was formerly Senior Principal and Lead Oral Health Scientist at Mars Wrigley in Chicago, until retiring in 2024. He is now an independent consultant providing expertise in effects of diet on oral ecology and caries prevention He holds a dental degree from the University of Edinburgh and a PhD in Dental Sciences from the University of Liverpool, and is an adjunct Associate Professor at the UIC College of Dentistry in Chicago. Prior to joining Wrigley, he was Associate Professor of Community Dentistry at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio and also completed a 2-year General Practice Residency at UNC Chapel Hill. His research interests are cariology, saliva, and preventive and community dentistry, with a focus on oral health benefits of chewing sugar-free gum.
Preventive oral health interventions in vulnerable populations: economic benefits and the role of public-private partnerships
The global impact of dental caries remains profound in terms of adverse health effects on individuals and populations, as well its societal and economic costs. The GBD 2017 study estimated 2.3 billion cases of untreated caries in permanent teeth globally, with 532 million suffering from untreated caries in deciduous teeth. Oral health prevention and promotion efforts, effectively delivered through collaborative public-private partnerships, can significantly improve health outcomes, particularly in vulnerable populations.
This symposium will present two examples of preventative oral health strategies that showcase health and economic benefits:
- Save the Children Partnership: The School Health and Nutrition (SHN) program in the Philippines, led by Save the Children and Mars Wrigley Foundation, is an impactful case study of how public-private collaborations improve oral health outcomes in vulnerable populations. By integrating oral health education into SHN programs, the program successfully reduced dental caries and enhanced children's overall health. Data from the program will be presented to showcase these proven results.
- Wrigley Oral Health Program: The Wrigley Oral Health Program explores the health and economic benefits of sugar-free chewing gum as a preventive measure. By stimulating saliva to reduce dental caries, sugar-free gum offers a cost-effective oral health solution. The symposium will discuss the ongoing efforts to validate and expand this innovative strategy.
Learning Objectives
- Describe the importance of prevention in achieving oral health outcomes.
- Articulate the role of public-private partnerships in delivering better oral health.
- Explore the benefits of an accessible oral care option, sugar-free gum, on improving oral health
- Understand the health economic benefits of preventive oral health measures.