Politics do something about it!

09-10-2020

The Ivory Cross - scientific association for the prevention of oral diseases - is very concerned! The oral health of many Dutch people of all ages is not going well. The oral health of children under 5 is deteriorating, the teeth of adolescents are affected by the acids of soft drinks. In addition, oral care is inaccessible to many adults because it is not included in basic health insurance. This applies even more to the elderly.

The government and politicians have been failing the Dutch for years when it comes to dental care. In 2009, the shortage of dentists was identified and not properly addressed. Due to various experiments and political decisions (see appendix with background information), there is a shortage of dentists and the previously excellent relationship between dentist and dental hygienist has come under pressure. All in all, the oral health of the Dutch is the big loser and that can have major consequences for overall health. An unhealthy mouth can exacerbate the severity of many diseases.

As a society, we have a habit of looking at issues separately from each other. This is an inefficient attempt to solve various problems independently of each other. The increase in the number of problems has now reached a point where this approach no longer works. We as Ivoren Kruis advocate an integrated approach to healthcare. With a meaningful place for oral care because a healthy mouth is essential for good public health for everyone. Although dental care is part of the basic care, it is unfortunately and in our opinion unjustly not part of the basic health insurance. The oral care system is in need of a thorough overhaul. For example, prevention should receive much more attention and appreciation in the field.

Earlier this year, the Ivoren Cross sent a letter to the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the Health Council and the SER calling for an independent committee to be set up to look for integrated solutions to the above-mentioned problem. Unfortunately, the responses from the Health Council and the SER have long been limited to an acknowledgment of receipt. For example, in the first published new election programme, that of D'66, the above-mentioned problems are again not touched upon. We now call on all political parties to pay more attention to oral care. In concrete terms: a guarantee of accessible oral care for every Dutch person by including it in the basic insurance, more attention to prevention in oral care and solving the
dentist shortage. We call again for a structural review of the whole
health care by setting up an independent commission, a la 'Dunning'.