Thursday 27 December 2012

544. The imbecile child and adolescent oral health portuguese

The biggest argument that asshole currently in Portuguese society (general public, governmental entities related to health and education and all professionals working in the field of oral health in Portugal) is presented to justify the brutal neglect of oral health of many hundreds of thousands of children and adolescents in our country is wanting to convey the idea that the costs are too high for dental treatments.
Who actually pay in the future as highly irresponsible, with very serious permanent physical and psychological damage to the rest of the life of these young people?
We've all thought that any child or teenager, now abandoned to their fate by the family and the state itself, may later in their working lives, pay thousands of times the treatments that need today? Many know but few are keen to inform and provide opportunities for these disadvantaged youth, how many thousands of unhappy lives forever by this type of mentality imbecile? Certain treatments can only be made ​​at 10, 12 or 15 years of age and not when it reaches adulthood.
Unhappy children and adolescents without thinking ability by lack of maturity due to their age.  

Thursday 20 December 2012

543. Dental Group refusal order closing the Regulatory Body Health

(Press on image to see the video in Portuguese)
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542. Portugal: The wretched spectacle of child oral health in 2011

I recently had the opportunity to attend at a dental clinic in a rural interior of the country (Alentejo), the hideous moments given by the spectacle of teenagers waiting for their turn to dental consultation.
In a country that draws hundreds of billions of euros of funds to the European Union since 1986, remains a miserable childhood dental medical care that disgrace the lives of hundreds of thousands of children and teenagers, leading them to painful physical and psychological damage to permanent the rest of their lives. After all, who served Portugal to sign the Declaration on the Rights of the Child? What crime committed these children and young people come into the world? Who should be held accountable and convicted for these facts?
Calls to the President of the Republic, members of the Health Committee of the National Assembly, all Ministers and former Ministers of Health and Education since 1986, the Director - General of Health and the President of the Dental Association, along with all her children and grandchildren, making a stay in one of the outlying regions of the country and contemporizarem live with this hideous situation.
Why are these situations never go on television and are not news in leading newspapers of the country? Who is interested that the situation is not resolved?  

Monday 17 December 2012

541. SPEMD will award research work in dentistry

The Portuguese Society of Oral and Dental Medicine (SPEMD), with support from Colgate, this year the second edition of SPEMD Research Prize, created with the aim of distinguishing merit and develop an interest in scientific research in oral health, advances the company in a press release.
The author of the best paper will be awarded a cash prize of three thousand euros, to be delivered during the Congress of SPEMD, and will publish in Portuguese Journal of Stomatology, Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery.
This initiative is open to all students attending the fifth year integrated Masters in Dentistry in 2010/2011 and the dentists completed a master's degree in 2009/2010, provided they are enrolled as members of SPEMD.
Jobs can be devoted to any topic of Dental Medicine, and since the original publication of unpublished or submitted for publication in scientific journals, until 5 August 2011.
The assessment will be made by a jury chaired by the president of SPEMDJaime Portugal, which also incorporates elements of the Body of Arbitrators of the Portuguese Journal of Stomatology, Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery. This team will judge the contest works according to the criteria of scientific merit, originality, interest and presentation.

Sunday 16 December 2012

540. GAIA: Project pioneer in oral health



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The free dental treatments performed on children living in social ventures of Gaia, and attending the draft Math Divertir com o Saber, evolved into a second phase which involves the placement of orthodontic appliances. It is a pioneering initiative in the country resulting from an agreement between the Municipality and the Gaia Garden Clinic, the Center for Studies in Health Sciences Consolidar e Validar. Began in October last year and has already enabled tracking about 500 children, aged between 8 and 12 years, and make dental care to more than 200 urgent pathologies.
We felt that we should open the project to more expensive treatments and long term, probably inaccessible for these patients, said António Faria, director of the Center for Clinical Studies, emphasizing the importance attributed to corporate social responsibility. It is our social responsibility to speak up and our work recognized by those who have decision-making power in Gaia.
The opportunity provided by the municipality to these children from needy families enables significant savings amounting to several thousand euros, since all treatments are carried at zero cost. The payment of our fees is done by satisfaction, recognition and appreciation of our work, praised António Faria.
Jornal Audiência

539. The compulsory health insurance: a responsible health

The economic and social development in the last hundred years has brought a great improvement in quality of life and a substantial increase in life expectancy. Simultaneously, living more years significantly increased health expenditure, reflecting more and better quality health care to the population.
Western governments have behaved the budgets of public health, however, the trend of an aging population has led to a disproportionate increase in health spending, so they begin to be at risk the viability of the existence of national health services tend to be free and accessible to the entire population.
Since current trends continue to provide for a growing aging population and a large drop in the birth rate (large reduction of the workforce in most developed countries over the next thirty to forty years) if there is a profound change in the pattern of economic development neoliberal soon we will have a failure of public health model in Portugal.
Incumbent upon the state to counter this disturbing trend now and create mechanisms to radically reverse the collapse for which is being thrown also our National Health Service, which will very quickly without the financial means of support. Besides being extremely urgent to promote a policy for families to increase rapidly the birthrate in Portugal (factor number one and most important for the sustainability and viability of the country), each Portuguese citizen has a moral duty and ethical also contribute to support of health charges that want to have throughout your life.
Each citizen must also face the financial burden as family health; Tues budget for health expenses must be exactly the same level as having money to buy a house or car, go on holiday to the Algarve or touring abroad, or pay addictions to tobacco, coffee or alcohol. Thus, for example who spend € 1,000 on holiday should also pass the saving € 1,000 for medical expenses, not doing so is a crime and that means someone else will have to spend this money later.
It is urgently necessary to create health insurance mandatory for all persons without exception, every citizen must take responsibility for their own health and not be dependent financially on others when sick or invalid. The S.N.S. can not continue to be free and every Portuguese tend to contribute equitably to the charges which require the National Health Service throughout his life.  
And not for the National Health Service expenditure on social vices lead negligent: combat alcoholism, tobacco derived from any illness, drug addiction or get abortions are examples that have no pertinence be at the expense of the budget of the National Health Service or physicians formed at the expense of taxes of working people. In these cases it is for the people themselves to make full payment of their own vices themselves and seek other alternatives to the National Health Service is not for other citizens supporting financially responsible behavior and anti-social vices practiced by others.
The state should concentrate primarily the resources of the National Health Service to those in need and who is responsible, it is simply a question of morals and ethics. Only thus can remain viable in the existence of a National Health Service public.

Monday 10 December 2012

538. Toothpastes multiple protection

The most effective are among the cheapest: show great success against bacteria and do not involve the risk of abrasion. Help prevent tooth decay, attack bacteria, lend a hand in fighting the diseases of the gums, teeth away the specter of tartar and eliminate the toughest stains: modern toothpastes try to incorporate increasingly active ingredients to claim possession of superpowers. But none has curative properties. If you suffer from oral disease, it is best to visit your doctor to find the solution.
Plan defense against cavities - Color, flavor and consistency reveal nothing about the power of a toothpaste. Fluorine is the most ingredient which is involved in preventing tooth decay. According to the Directorate-General for Health, a product for adults should be between 1000 and 1500 ppm fluoride. A smaller quantity compromises the efficacy. If it is higher, the risk of attack or cause enamel demineralization and stains, especially in young children. The amount of fluoride that we measured in the lab is very different from never announced by the manufacturers.
Regarding the type of substance, nearly all use sodium fluoride, cheap and efficient. The toothpastes are to be successful in removing stains and food debris without attacking the enamel. No product achieves high levels of abrasion.
But the real proof in the prevention of diseases of the teeth and gums is the ability to remove plaque. Depends on the combined effect of cleaning agents and substances which form a protective film. Many folders include antibacterial ingredients. The product with better performance removes 90% of the harmful microorganisms.
Simple tricks for healthy teeth and gums - When we eat or drink, certain bacteria produce acids to metabolize sugars and form a film on teeth called plaque. To eliminate it, brush your teeth at least 2 times per day.
If plaque is not removed regularly, acids attack the enamel and tooth decay can arise. The risk differs depending on individuals and supply type. A toothpaste rich in fluorine enhances enamel and avoids the problem.
In more severe cases, plaque calcification deposits on and between the teeth and gums and emerges tartar, which can ignite the gums and cause other diseases. Tartar is very difficult to remove with a brush, paste and floss. The work requires the hand of a dentist.
Preventing dental disease is simple and inexpensive. Oral hygiene, balanced diet and healthy lifestyle are the secret. Avoid sweets, sugary drinks and tobacco.
Deco Proteste    

Friday 30 November 2012

537. Checks dentists do not cover more than 90% of the oral health needs of children and adolescents

The Dental Association has called on the authorities to begin to deliver sooner dentist checks in schools, which are having a lower rate of use in school-age children. According to the report on access to the Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS), the 997,000 checks issued from the academic year 2008/2009 students from public schools only 57 percent were employed.
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Let's do math. In Portugal there are about 1.8 million children and adolescents (default). The recommendation is to be made ​​2 visits per child per year (1.8 million X 2 = 3.6 million visits per year), the dentist-check was introduced in the academic year 2008/2009, 3 years ago (3.6 million X 3 = 10.8 million visits). The number of vouchers are distributed to dentists 997 000, giving a coverage of 9.23% 
The conclusion is simple: the check-dentist covers less than 10% of the oral health needs of children and young people in Portugal.

Sunday 25 November 2012

536. Topics for the development of an oral health policy in Portugal (II)

The financial, human resources and materials in the country are sufficient to significantly improve the health sector, including also the valence of oral health. The topics presented in the previous post are just some examples of the work that needs to be done, stopped in the last six years by the Ministry of Health
You must have an active philosophy towards health issues and deal with viable solutions that generally do not cause increases in costs and allowing wide monetize the resources already available. Prevention deserves a big highlight in oral health.
Other measures may be derived from overlapping that, firstly, the policy must be focused only to benefit the patient. For reflection (the order appears arbitrarily):
1.- Create basic oral health emergencies in central hospitals, affecting a doctor dentist 24 hours a day (in case of emergency you can not ask other experts from different areas to treat specific diseases oral health);
2.- Eliminate red tape and end up with all kinds of fees and taxes to legalize the provision of oral health care in clinics and medical centers, provided they buy all the legal requirements and to be assured that the health of patients;
3.- Making insurance mandatory for all professional technicians oral health, without exception, to cover all medical procedures performed and always safeguard the health of patients;
4.- Making health insurance compulsory for the whole population, to ensure that all people are able to access health care in the National Health Service and agreed, including access to oral health care;
5.- Discriminate positively primary health care, particularly with preventive character, facilitating and promoting widespread access and free of charge to children and young exams early diagnosis of oral health in any clinic or recognized by the Ministry of Health;
6.- Prohibit entirely advertising of all products and substances harmful to oral hygiene, including television spots for food highly detrimental to training and education for healthy eating;
7.- To effectively combat trade in food substances and highly harmful to oral hygiene, forcing companies to identify, clearly and prominently on the labels, what are its harmful effects on health;
8.- Introduce additional user fees that penalize the people who resorted systematically to health care in non-priority areas, particularly when associated with behavioral risk factors (abortion, diseases originating from tobacco use, sexually transmitted diseases, drug abuse, etc).
 

535. Topics for the development of an oral health policy in Portugal (I)

1.- Considering the huge gap between the oral health care available to the population in Portugal and those provided in other EU countries;
2.- Noting the huge income inequalities between social classes, with direct reflection on the opportunities of access to oral health care;
3.- Knowing that oral health is an essential commodity for the physical well-being and psychological of any human being, from childhood to old age (and its absence causes immeasurable damage and permanently for the rest of his life, in both physical and psychological)
4.- Observing a lack of moral ethics on the part of heads of ministerial health of past governments to study and implement concrete measures to eradicate diseases oral health;
5.- Having regard to almost zero role of the Directorate - General of Health to promote an effective and accurate real prevention of oral health in the school environment;
6.- Noting the systematic utilization of available resources for oral health in the order of many millions of euros spent on advertising, software, brochures and the like, without which there would result a single real medical treatment;
7.- Assuming that many actively entities with interests oral health sector in Portugal claim that everything remains the same, no change;
8.- Existing in Portugal all the human and material resources needed for full health care, in terms of oral health, the entire Portuguese population.
It is time to apply the new government, already, several measures that humanize the oral health sector in Portugal, namely:
a) implementation of the Oral Health Card for all children and young people;
b) complete allocation of all funds for oral health programs solely on medical procedures;
c) use of social media audiences, including television, to promote a culture of responsible oral health;
d) maximum possible dissemination of oral health services available in the country, including those allocated to the National Health Service;
e) introduction of oral health exams as a requirement for mandatory registration and renewal of registration in all primary schools and secondary schools;
f) creation of a single national telephone number, intended solely to oral health;
g) contracts for services directly between the state and young dentists, formed recently, in order to place in the labor market all dentists trained by the universities;
h) valuation of initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation between the various specialties of oral health, dental and dental and the remaining valences of the National Health Service;
i) invests in tax incentives that allow the creation and retention of small units of oral health in poorer and more remote from major cities;
j) strong support for scientific research of young graduates in areas of high interest to the public oral health;
l) review of the role of all institutions related to oral health sector, particularly in terms of competence and public responsibilities;
m) introduction of partnership with third countries by setting annual quotas of emigration / immigration of oral health professionals;
n) establish a period of extraordinary legalization for all oral health professionals in the country illegally established, stipulating obligations and duties;
o) make and publish a mandatory national system of annual appraisal of all professionals related to oral health;
p) officially certify entities and bodies providing services or products required for the development of all activities related to oral health;
q) promote practical training of all technicians in oral health training institutions providing the necessary resources to fulfill their duties.
 

Sunday 18 November 2012

534. TURMA DO BEM in Portugal

Today in Portugal, the TURMA DO BEM are 210 and more than 280 complex dental treatments offered for free. We have volunteers in more than 50 cities, from north to south of Portugal. The value of the EDP Foundation invests, along with support from Jaba Recordati, ACEuropa and other support is crucial to accomplish our work. And we are fully aware that we have much to do.
As for the draft to come out or not is irrelevant. Volunteers, the heart of  TURMA DO BEM are mostly, Portuguese citizens. Replicability, proven results, acting in more than 10 countries and a network of 9000 volunteers are the reasons that made ​​the EDP Brazil support this project in Brazil since 2008 and EDP Foundation is co-founder of the initiative in less than a year showed extraordinary results.
We maintain an excellent relationship with other organizations. Miguel Pavão, president of the MUNDO A SORRIR, and Dr. Cassiano Scapini, project coordinator of the LBV in Porto, and meet our volunteers are 2 children each.
Finally, we received the award for Project of Social Solidarity Oral Health magazine, which shows the recognition of a significant proportion of dental professionals Portuguese. Incidentally, in this moment of crisis, what we need most are good ideas and solidarity. To add up, clarify, and improve valuing dentistry in Portugal. Especially in Lisbon, where we have over 200 young people in queue.
Murilo Casagrande
Manager of the International TURMA DO BEM
210028125
Murilo@turmadobem.org.pt  

Sunday 11 November 2012

533. The end of cycle

The order of the government of José Sócrates is the culmination of a dark period for the oral health of the entire Portuguese population. The last six years have been marked by a ridiculous waiting period effective in fighting that left to do in Portugal, in combating diseases related to oral health.
In exchange for almost nothing and the silencing of the subject in the media, to pretend that everything ran on wheels in oral health hid the pure demagoguery of those who have never been interested in doing something positive, leaving the sinking bad oral health of the Portuguese population increasingly away from the quality of life of European citizens.
Hopefully for another time and new rulers to change the state in the swampy navigating the oral health of the Portuguese. 

532. Children learn to take care of teeth in Clinicalm in Almeirim

Undaunted, Salvador, four years old, is the first to climb to the dentist's chair. Very earnest in his role as medical pretending, Jessica, a year younger, puts the mask on the mouth and listens carefully to the directions of the doctor seriously. With the mirror disposable hand in the girl's mouth Salvador notes to see if it's okay with your teeth. Jessica and Salvador are two of about fifty children from Kindergarten Conde Sobral in Almeirim, who visited the facilities of Clinicalm.
The purpose of that kind of hits that Clinicalm started about two years is alert children to the importance of brushing teeth and going to the dentist regularly. There are still children who are not encouraged to take oral hygiene habits and so we decided to help, explains Maria Pinto Correia, clinical director and manager.
For most children who was first contacted with a dentist. Maria Pinto Correia says it's important they realize how a query to lose the fears that may be associated with this medical specialty.
The medical dentist says that parents take their children to the dentist rather late. Usually after having already born the permanent teeth. The first consultation should occur at the birth of the first baby teeth. Failure to come to the dentist affect the dentition in the future, he adds.
During the visit the children was possible to detect some decayed teeth. The physician advises that children wash teeth at least twice daily and visit the doctor twice a year. Once you begin to be born the first baby teeth should be washed even if with a cloth or compress. When you start eating sweets is very important to wash your teeth frequently stresses.
The training began with the viewing of an animated film where the doctor Dentolas explains the importance of having healthy teeth. At the end the children received a gift toothpaste and a pamphlet which explains the care of the teeth.
While defending that prevention remains the best strategy for good oral health, the dentist regrets that medical patients to doctors only recourse when problems are already active. The Clinicalm has a team of five dentists, two gynecologists, a psychologist, a nutritionist, a speech therapist and two assistants.
O Mirante  

Friday 2 November 2012

531. BRAZIL: macabre experiments on children with impunity

By an agreement with the prosecution of the Federal District, the dentist Wilson Oliveira Santos who took all the teeth Cesar Oliveira Ferreira will pay 51 thousand Brazilian reais.
However, the procedure done in absentia of those responsible for the boy had much milder fate: he got rid of the punishment in violation process which analyzed the four sections of the Code of Ethics in Dental Article fifth, just what is the fundamental duties of professionals and entities of Dentistry.
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The barbarity of the sentence applied to the heinous crime committed on persons under the age reveals far as the lack of professional ethics can go; unfortunate that crimes such absurd to pass unscathed dental organizations and the Brazilian courts.
I believe this crime committed in another country would have a sentence of several years in prison and a ban for the rest of the life of dental hygienist to have any contact with children.
Unfortunately the crime was committed within the borders of Brazil. There are international voices to denounce human rights violations wherever they occur.
 

Sunday 28 October 2012

530. Couple of foreign doctors who cared dentists

Before they were three, now there are five. Five medical clinics in Tavira, Faro, Olhão, Estoi and Tunes, operating in conditions apparently legal. Three of them were closed down on November 16 after a joint operation of the Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras, with the presence of the Authority of Public Health, the Medical and Dental Association. But however, upon further inspection of the health authorities, the Express found that on-site clinics have been reopened and the owners - he dentist, her medical cardiologist - until now opened two more in Estoi and Tunes.
According to the indictment the prosecutor of Olhão, the couple has yet to respond to moral judgment authored by the other two, the continuing crime of usurpation of functions and of falsifying documents relating to the coverage given to Brazilian immigrants who worked in the clinics and dentists revenue and spent on behalf of the owner. Were not entered in the Order nor had work visas legalized in Portugal.
On the other hand, ensures that the Order has referred the case to the Board since November Conduct and Discipline of OMD on this caso.Iremos ask the Health Regulatory Authority (ERS) to identify their clinical bodies, including the directors responsible for the clinical operation of clinics, adds Orlando Monteiro.
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These situations should be severely punished and the Order of Dentists must urgently establish partnerships with foreign professional associations, notably in Brazil, in order to regulate the entry into Portugal of highly qualified professionals in oral health.
Moreover, it is the obligation of the Portuguese authorities to ensure all conditions to ensure the full integration of immigrants who choose our country to live and work without any kind of discrimination.