INTEGRATING ORAL HEALTH CARE ACROSS NON-DENTAL PROFESSIONALS: Part 1: How oral health and cardiovascular health, diabetes and cognitive decline are related
Associate Professor Rachel Martin, Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Melbourne & Western Sydney University & Director, Australian Network for the Integration of Oral Health (NIOH) & Director, Australian Dental Research Foundation
Dr Ajesh George, Professor of Interprofessional Oral Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University & Co-Founder & Director, Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health – ACIOH
SEGMENT
Filmed in Melbourne & Liverpool, NSW | January 2025
Poor oral health can contribute to or exacerbate several systemic health conditions due to the close connection between oral bacteria, inflammation, and systemic processes. These conditions include cardiovascular health, diabetes, respiratory health, cognitive health, pregnancy and birth outcomes.
The Australian Network for the Integration of Oral Health (NIOH) was founded in 2017 to promote and drive the alignment and integration of oral and general health systems. The mission of NIOH is to promote collaborative practice among various health professionals, enhancing access to oral health services and encouraging early preventive care. NIOH has over 120 members across universities, government agencies, not-for-profits, consumer groups, and industry within Australia.
Australian Health Journal spoke to Associate Professor Rachel Martin, Director at NIOH about the oral health being intricately linked to overall health, particularly concerning two prevalent diseases: periodontal disease and dental caries, which often go untreated.
Assoc Prof Martin, talks about primary healthcare practitioners playing a vital role in early intervention by proactively asking patients about symptoms such as loose teeth and bleeding gums. She comments on AIHW statistics on Australians hospitalised despite potentially preventable oral conditions, underscoring the need for timely care.
The Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health (ACIOH), is the research arm of NIOH. Dr Ajesh George as Co-Founder & Director, of ACIOH spoke to Australian Health Journal about the opportunities that clinical professionals, in dental health care and general health care can play in integrated models of health care and on prevention, early intervention to reduce the burden of disease in Australia.
To see the Australian Health Journal segment, “Integrating oral health care across non-dental professionals, Part 1: How Oral Health and Cardiovascular Health, Diabetes and Cognitive Decline Are Related”, click here.
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Values in Workplace Culture
Professor Sabe Sabesan, is the Clinical Dean of the Townsville Regional Medical Training network incorporating the Townsville Hospital and Health Services and the Townsville Clinical School of the James Cook University and the director of the department of Medical oncology at the Townsville Cancer Centre, Townsville Hospital.
The Professor recently wrote, “Workforce wellness and engagement have become buzzwords in healthcare settings since there is an intimate relationship between staff wellbeing and performance of the healthcare system. Wellness initiatives such as wellness champions and wellness committees have been set up in response to emerging workforce mental health issues. These are largely reactive rather than being proactive in addressing or preventing the root cause of mental health issues.”
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Addressing Pharmacy challenges at home and abroad
Paul Sinclair’s progression through the ranks of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) demonstrates the impact and influence he’s had in representing the pharmacy profession on a global scale. In this Australian Health Journal interview, Paul talks about the 4 themes in the upcoming FIP Congress in Brisbane this month. He also talks about the challenges facing pharmacy with remuneration, professional service delivery and the workforce coming out of the COVID era.
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Intersection of multiple births, birth trauma and perinatal mental health
Mothers of multiples are five times more likely to experience depression and have triple the rates of anxiety compared to mothers of singletons. Danya McStein is a Clinical Team Manager at Gidget Foundation Australia, talks about mothers expecting twins showing prenatal depressive symptoms, while postpartum, facing higher risks of clinical exhaustion and postpartum depression.
