436. XXIV Conference of Dental Medicine (7 and 8 May)

* * *

Information:

Faculdade de Medicina Dentária da Universidade de Lisboa

435. 11th edition of the Colgate Oral Health and the Portuguese Society of Dental Medicine

Colgate and SPEMD (Portuguese Society of Stomatology and Dental Medicine) boost in March 2010, the 11th edition of "Oral Health Month SPEMD and Colgate. "For a month, doctors and dentists dentists will conduct free dental screenings (without X-rays or treatment) to the population throughout the country, including Madeira and the Azores, with the aim of preventing the diseases of the mouth and enhance the teaching of oral hygiene among Portuguese population.

One of the messages in that professional oral hygiene is going to insist on brushing teeth. This task should be performed after each meal and before bedtime, to reduce the risk of tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath caused by bacteria lodged in the mouth and feeding of food scraps that fall between the teeth.

Not to contaminate the mouth, brushing should be done always with a clean brush and, preferably, adapted to the needs of each. Still, it is advisable to exchange brush every three months and whenever the user through a period of illness.

Oral Hygiene professionals will also be discussing the importance of the elixir and flossing. A truly effective cleaning of the mouth does not release these two objects, ideal to combat plaque, 80% of which is distributed by the tongue, palate and cheeks. Only the remainder is what is lodged between the teeth.

Irrespective of the use daily brushing, flossing and elixir, all professionals Oral Hygiene advocate regular visits to the dentist. The professional assessment of the state of dental health remains the best method of preventing oral diseases such as gingivitis and tooth decay, which does not even generate pain in its early stages.

Thanks to the last of the Colgate Oral Health and SPEMD, launched in 2000, have been performed over 100 000 free dental examinations and prevented untold potential cases of oral diseases.

To participate in the Month of Colgate Oral Health and SPEMD, interested parties can obtain details of your stick closer to his home through the blue line - 808 305 306 - between 12:00 and 23:00.

For any clarification, please contact: Emirec Comunicação - Cristina Brito; Telf: 21 301 13 90 Email: cristina.brito@emirec.pt Sociedade Portuguesa de Estomatologia e Medicina Dentária

434. Oral health makes contracts with private: More spending on health was worse

The implementation of oral health programs using the contracting of private policy followed by the last government, has dragged down the oral health of the Portuguese.

In the case of oral health program for children and adolescents, it was not enough to convey to the public idea of a new program, in practice when it comes to replacing one program by another program, now we all know that the new program adds to further discrimination among children and young people with privileged access to that program and the other children and young people who will definitely stay away from any kind of support.

Extremely aberrant is the fact that children and adolescents may only access the program at certain ages: for the government, dental caries and other oral health problems appear in pre-defined ages.

And no one speaks of embezzled thousands of euros to promote media campaigns, as part of the media is already supported by our taxes.

Increasingly seen to indemnify the state by the oral health of the Portuguese, already almost definitely delivered to private interests who seek profit in the first place. We try to squander the last remaining resources in the National Health Service (SNS), many now see as many people as attractive source of profit and less about preventing the greater market share in the future.

One thing all agree are also: implement a bulletin Oral Health for all children and adolescents in Portugal is one thing that you can not hear because it can only be done in less developed countries as Portugal, where parents do not have sufficient income to afford the oral health of children.

The sad thing is the black spot that organizations of dentists may be leaving, to collaborate with all this farce. Does not have any strength to the country show clearly that spending more of our taxes is the worst result in oral health?

433. The confusion of dental checks

National Health Service has issued half a million checks

* * *

With nearly half a million of first dental checks already issued, the National Oral Health will now be extended to children in middle ages. An extension that is not good, since on the one hand, takes children who missed the validity of the check request in 2009 and, second, extending treatment to those that attended last year, they need more monitoring. Thus, apart from children of seven, ten and 13 years who are entitled to two or three valleys, this year's eight, eleven and 14 years of age who need to continue treatment started in 2009 may be referenced by the family doctor.

Moreover, the Ministry of Health decided to open the middle children of these ages the opportunity to once again have dental checks, once in the last school year, have seen their checks expired. At the time, the result of late delivery of the vouchers - which was valid until August 31 - many were left without treatment, as she admits herself Directorate General of Health (which yesterday issued a statement giving an account of the enlargement of PNSO). This year's checks the validity of August 31.

The Secretary of State for Health ensures that the objective in the long term is to ensure oral health care to all children and young people aged between four and 16 years. Manuel Pizarro does not advance, however, that a deadline for universal coverage. Is incremental, told JN. We have a ways to go compared to other countries, he admits.

For the other groups covered by PNSO, Manuel Pizarro speaks in reasonable compliance of pregnant women followed in the health centers, but the low participation of the elderly beneficiaries of the solidarity supplement. A delay that gives the poor access to information. We have to work on a dissemination strategy of the measure.

Checks are issued by family doctors in health centers, giving the user the possibility to choose the private practice who understands among dentists PNSO adherents. Recently, a controversy broke out involving the national debt to these professionals, a problem that is recognized by the Ministry of Health administrative services were not able to answer the flood of checks in the North and Center. But the commitment is to regulate the payments until the end of the month, ensures Pizarro.

Jornal de Notícias

* * *

A genuine confusion at the level of dental checks:

- sometimes others are not bald;

- those studying in public schools are entitled to dental check, since those who study in private education is not entitled to dental check;

- Is for all children but do not know if it's for when I have more than 18 years;

- at any time to change the rules;

- the Court has already drawn the attention of the government because of dental checks are a way to further accentuate the disparities between haves and have no access to oral health;

- nobody takes the elderly to the offices of dentists;

- are appalling delays in payments to dentists.

Finally, a complete farce or shame in that nothing is meant to illustrate the design and that the Ministry of Health, Directorate General of Health and Assciação the Order of Dentists traced to the oral health of children, young and old Portuguese.

Just like to know how do you know the treatment needs of each person before even beginning the treatments. And then, if the budget allocated to each child, young or old is exhausted, who will bear the rest of the treatments?

432. The Ministry of Finance does not like patients

The government is preparing to pass in Parliament and referred to the Brussels Programme of the Stability and Growth 2010 - 2013 (PEC). A careful reading of the guidelines that underlie the preparation of the final PEC overlap, immediately, a general increase in taxes paid by each family, by introducing mechanisms that will make indirect taxation substantially reduce the annual repayments.

Thus, the equitable limitation for deductible expenses and tax benefits in place of taxes on individuals (IRS), taking into account the taxpayer's income level is associated with the idea of further reducing the tax benefits to families who have, For example, higher health costs.

Unfortunately, the government seems to want to come to use taxes to penalize those who most need health care, drastically worsening the equality of all portuguese in access to medical care.

Will the government already knows who will be people who will be sick? Using people's health budget to fill holes created in other sectors can only be done by low politics who has not any notion that health is not something you can choose. Unfortunately it was not enough as the dismantling of many services provided by the National Health Service; from now will be also punished those who did not choose to be sick, not to mention the already chronically ill.

Unfortunately, the health of portuguese is actually to be getting sicker.

431. The dark path from childhood in Portugal (part 2 / Conclusion)

Combining the concept of health as defined by the World Health Organization as a state of complete physical, mental and social, not merely the absence of disease, with the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Child, we can say that Portugal is a country that is in constant violation of human rights by failing to officially recognize as a disease all the pathologies associated with oral health. In this context, our country runs over the basic rights of children and adolescents who, having no psychological maturity, are neglected by the national health service and cruelty of unpredictable consequences for the rest of their lives.

The politics of contempt made ​​by governments regarding the prevention and treatment of diseases associated with oral health is well illustrated by an absence in Portugal, no mandatory screening of all children and adolescents at the level of dentistry. Moreover, governments will closing oral health services that will still exist in hospitals and health centers, taking advantage of the absence of a specific technique for career dentists, dentists and dental hygienists from within the civil service.

The use of service contracts with private, within the oral health, lately made ​​by governments, shows total inaction by the Ministry of Health and Education in face and resolve the problem by putting public health in the hands of economic interests alone.

We are witnessing the delivery by the government, the responsibilities of oral health to entities that often manifest a clear lack of ethics and never showed interest in making primary prevention, usually associated with or colluding with business groups and multinationals that want to maintain the current landscape in order to ensure customers in the medium and long term.

The consequence of outrages against human dignity committed by the previous and current governments in the context of oral health, with the connivance of organizations directly and indirectly related to oral health, resulting in the worst abuses of the rights and dignity of the human person, in the latter case, are victimized by the system, since it can not choose to be born into a rich and powerful family, with all rights, and a family destitute and poor, who are denied all their rights, since they can not afford them.

While government associations and groups involved in oral health signing up to the current situation, we are daily violating the most elementary rights of the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which prevents a very large percentage of them may never have adequate oral health treatments with unpredictable consequences for the rest of their lives.

How long will you continue this atrocious policy of oral health in Portugal? After all, where is the ethics of oral health? The sensitivity for oral health problems, particularly in childhood and adolescence, requires a completely different behavior on the part of the current government and entities connected to the practice of dentistry.

Are they also expected to occur to the suicide of a child or teenager why you were denied oral health care?

430. The dark path from childhood in Portugal (Part 1)

Last week was notorious for Portugal to become a country where there are children who commit suicide are victims of Bullyng in school.

Unfortunately, the degradation of living conditions of the working population, subject to all sorts of social humiliation, either in industrial relations or the relations of social integration has dramatically complicated because the family monitoring their children's education.

Increasingly witnessing the closure of a whole range of social supports neighborhood that marked the quiet environment of small rural and urban environments. The policy of strangulation of public services provided to more remote from major media centers, made ​​by past governments, has increasingly worsened the living conditions of the overwhelming majority of the population of these areas is increasingly unprotected access to essential supplies, including to health care.

The deregulation of labor laws throw the overwhelming majority of the working classes to work schedules completely inappropriate to the educational support of children; the closure of thousands of primary schools and the concentration of hundreds of children and young people in larger school environments severely depersonalized relationship closeness between teachers and students; extending completely atrocious school hours does not translate accurately any benefit for healthy children and young people, education for health care simply does not exist in the overwhelming majority of schools, the attendance of children and youth with educational needs has been severely curtailed by recent governments.

All this reflects negatively on the personality of children and youth, today more than ever just to learn authentic machines, even though they have no capacity to do so.

The irrational disarray of basic education in the country then, no one actually knows what the capabilities that a young person should acquire by the end of his academic training and is a symptom that illustrates the dark path taken by the current rulers.

In the area of primary health care, is truly appalling what is happening in school health in the country: the overwhelming majority of the primary school makes no medical checks over the years attending school. In the context of oral health there is no control of the situation and the overwhelming majority of children and young people are never examined and properly treated throughout their school life, with appropriate consequences for the rest of his life.

In a country where many thousands annually spend billions of euros in investment return highly doubtful, the primary care of children and young people are neglected by purely educational system.

All these dramas illustrate the role and incompetence of politicians who have ruled the country since April 25, 1974.

(Continued)

429. Smoking causes 19 out of 20 tumors of the mouth

Among people who develop cancer of the head and neck, 95% are smokers or have a history of smoking. The study of the Cancer Institute of the State of São Paulo (ICESP) also shows that men account for 90% of those affected, reports the Estadão.com.br website.

The survey was conducted with 327 patients at the institute. The data refer to tumors affecting the aerodigestive tract, ie, mouth, pharynx, larynx and trachea. According to the oncologist ICESP Gilberto Castro, 65% of the cases correspond to tumors in the oral cavity and pharynx.

Smoking is the main risk factor for cervical cancer. The consumption of alcoholic beverages, especially distilled, also increases risk. Generally, the two habits are associated, said Fernando Luiz Dias, head of the Head and Neck Surgery of National Cancer Institute of Brazil (INCA). The action is cumulative. The time that the patient smoked and the amount of cigarettes a day makes all the difference.

The expert explained that the problem is more common in men not only because they smoke more, but also because they are careless of their oral health. The presence of plaque and broken teeth that cause chronic trauma on the cheek, for example, also increase the risk. Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), which occurs through sexual intercourse, can cause throat cancer.

Because they are in visible locations, these tumors can be detected early, even through self-examination. But according to the oncologist ICESP, over 70% of patients who seek treatment are already in advanced stage disease. If treated early, the chances of cure are good. But like most is late, 70% will die within five years. Often those who survive are left with consequences affecting the quality of life, he says.

In addition to lumps in the neck that lasts for more than two weeks, other symptoms of this type of cancer are red or white patches, mouth ulcers with bleeding and delayed healing, changes in voice or persistent hoarseness and difficulty swallowing.

POP - Portal de Oncologia

* * *

Please continue to smoke. What my tax money can then be diverted to pay for the treatment of cancers that you have come to this, instead they can be channeled for the prevention and treatment of dental caries of children and young people. The Portuguese government to thank for their addiction.

428. How can an order to stop humiliating the Government itself?

Government pays dentists checks without a bank guarantee

* * *

There are thousands of dentists, especially in northern and central Portugal, to whom the State has tens of thousands of euros since last year, for services rendered in connection with dental checks. The aggrieved and indignant, saying that the government checks are bald. I know colleagues beginning their careers, which are going very badly, because, having not yet customers, had the dental checks to pay fixed costs arising from the conduct of business. Only, as the state is the first to give a bad example, bad pay, not those colleagues now have to pay up, the materials used with patients sent by the Ministry of Health, assured, to JN, a physician Porto, whom the Regional Health Administration of the North owes about six thousand euro since October 2009.

The JN contacted the Ministry of Health, regional health administrations (ARS) North, Centre, Lisbon and Tagus Valley, Alentejo and Algarve and the Order of Dentists to determine the total amounts outstanding, from the creation of dental check, in June 2008. However, only the ARS Lisboa e Vale do Tejo, unless challenged, said: 178,960 euros. The ARS that are the worst paid in the North and Centre. The best are those who pay the Algarve, Alentejo and Lisbon and Tagus Valley.

There are doctors in the North, thus far, has not received any service within the dental checks. Most, however, not received since October 2009. The João Pedro Oliveira of Clinical Cértoma in Anadia, ARS Center should, since half a year ago, about ten thousand. Ana Lampreia, Supermed Clinic, ARS Alentejo is about 800 euros. But the examples are more than many. The JN heard more than fifty dentists and all complain of late payments incomprehensibly.

Ana Filipa, Braga, says he attends a clinic where, since July 2009, patients with dental check, ARS North never came to pay him any service. Maria José Cameira, Faro, criticizes the bureaucracy leading to payments and says it takes less time to meet some patients than to fill their forms. André Neto, Alfacinha Smile Clinic in Lisbon, says that what you usually have outstanding enough to pay to an employee and who had to live with the money of dental checks had already died. Rita Barroso of Coimbra, complains of not receiving since October 2009.

At JN, Filomena Lages, ARS Center, acknowledged that unpaid invoices with about four months, but attributed some blame to doctors who meet the forms incorrectly. Antonino Leite, the ARS North blames the workload.

Jornal de Notícias

427. PORTUGAL THE XXI CENTURY: The misery dragged 36 years after the implementation of democratic

In 2009, the solidarity of readers JN reached 19 families through the line Every man is my brother. The donations helped to significantly improve some of these lives.

Help - in most cases money - contributed, for example, less shy smiles, or for someone to read or walk down the street without tripping. There were lots of requests for oral health treatments, usually very expensive and out of the National Health System were also many requests for help to buy a pair of glasses.

Every week showered aid requests to the wording of JN and most of them have already arrived without any hope or expectation of response. For many, JN was the latter. This is the case of Mary, for example, which ran many dentists who have no hope and asked All Men support to pay for dental treatment of their child. Mary said to JN have been surprised that his letter had answer.

All cards are properly analyzed, and verified the accuracy of their content. After it is published and the generosity of the readers do the rest. This year - a donation in donation - rose to 19 households.

The same item won enough for a hundred Christmas baskets for needy families.

Jornal de Notícias

* * *

If the Minister of Health, Director-General of Health, the Presidents of the Medical Association, the President of the Dental Association and the Minister of Education had the merit to live in the very same living conditions for six months, that the people portrayed in the news and sure enough they would have a performance of health policies in the country quite different from the trading floors that continue the seven winds.

Unfortunately, democracy and equality in the day that end there are elections.

426. Petition CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORAL HEALTH IN PORTUGAL

(Sign this petition here)

Internet address:

http://www.peticaopublica.com/PeticaoVer.aspx?pi=P2009N871

* * *

To: Portugal - CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORAL HEALTH IN PORTUGAL (secular Suggestions on three topics for a national project covering Dentistry).

===========================

I - MEDICINE IN DENTISTRY

NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE

Someday the balm of science had to come to the wounds of the suffering people Miguel Torga (April 11, 1978). When Miguel Torga anticipated that the victory would prove to be the National Health Service, would not think that part of the anatomy would be mutilated in the planning of basic health care in Portugal.

While in November 1974 to be provided in grants to launch the foundations of the National Health Service (SNS in Portuguese language) to provide free and universal health care oral, 30 years later after the creation of the National Health Service, the Dentistry is a gap indefinitely postponed in the SNS.

Since, the importance of Oral Health in the overall balance of the human body and having established the importance of dentistry in conjunction with the various medical specialties, it is incomprehensible that the provision of oral health care is ignored in the model of the Portuguese National Health Service.

Whereas the current prime minister classifies the SNS as the great social achievement of modern democracy, the conditions are created to achieve this demand was the creation of a public health system. It is essential to sensitize the state to the inclusion of Oral Health in the SNS as it complies with the constitutional imperative.

Despite the advances and retreats on the concept of a public health service in Portugal is important to alert the person coordinating the study on the sustainability of the SNS - Jorge Simões - acknowledges that the only service where there is a universality in the SNS dentistry. Moreover, it admits that the amount wasted in the conventions should be applied in the care of Oral Health.

In counterpoint to this assessment we have the shocking realization that the Health Minister, Ana Jorge, confesses that she did not know how many accounts would cost to put dentists in all health centers. Becomes more embarrassing situation when the Ministry of Health says it is faster to make agreements with the private than creating a public oral health service. This carefree ignorance is the testimony that in thirty years was not a plan for structural integration of Dental Medicine in Health in Portugal.

Knowing the basics of argumentation that led António Arnaut to create the National Health Service is easy to show that no alternative (either a system of co-payments, is a system of opting out or a system of public-private partnerships) will reduce the charges the state nor the other hand improve the healthcare provided. As the Arnaut said, such partnerships are only of interest to investors because it guarantees them, in advance, pay a profit without any risk.

Thus, the current model check-dentist, is a missed opportunity where we can see not only a waste of exchequer, as the breach of the fundamental pillars of the National Health Service: their universality and gratuity.

Is it not that the report of the World Health Organization, 2007 states that the publicly funded oral health care system in Portugal is not comprehensive. A program that demeans prevention, which emphasizes the curative treatments, which disclaims intervention at school level and does not ensure universal protection, global, multidisciplinary, and planned can only be classed as incomprehensible!

António Arnaut as advocated in May 16, 1979 (date of the closing speech of the parliamentary debate of the National Health Service) a public health project must provide for the articulation with private institutions only in exceptional cases. Adding to the enormity of euros spent (almost) inconsequential in the initiative dental check and adding funds injected into subsystems and conventions could create a public dentistry without any disruption on the State Budget.

A system of public-private partnership should be considered only in areas adjacent / extreme situations where it is not feasible to provide dental or medical services when the responsiveness of the state is insufficient to ensure the integrity of the patient. Thus, as in many other medical disciplines, the National Health Service and private health institutions should exist without jeopardizing the freedom of patient choice, the universality of care or even the survival of each of these alternatives (as is found in all medical specialties in 30 years of National Health Service).

These general remarks it is inevitable considering that the National Health Service has not yet reached their motto while dentistry is not considered as an integral part. The dentists should be viewed as an investment rather than a cost.

Thus it is crucial:

- Change the lines of thought of the Order of Dentists who finds it easier and cheaper to articulate the private clinics than to create a National Health Service with Integrated Dental Medicine (RTP1 - June 16, 2009);

- Develop a national plan of action focusing on prevention intervention at school level;

- Integrating dentistry in all health centers, family health units and other public health institutions so that these structures could be provided all the basic treatments (preventive and curative) Oral Health;

- Include Dental Medicine in emergency services of all local council and district hospitals;

- Introduce the concept of peripherals to once every dentist graduates to ensure a comprehensive coverage of oral health care (but forgotten over the explicit wishes of the outgoing Secretary-General to establish an unpaid internship);

- Insert Dental Medicine in multidisciplinary teams of central hospitals so that we can respond effectively to all clinical cases complex and differentiated.

======================================

II - BUILDING A CREDIBLE PROFESSION

FOUNDED IN PRACTICE

Leopard dies when leaves your skin. Man dies when it leaves its reputation (Chinese proverb). Between common sense has not always existed a positive association between dentistry and the qualities of integrity, credibility and professionalism. Are mainly cultural and historical reasons that lead to this conclusion: the guesswork who cared for years the oral health of populations, such as pain symptoms who lived with the daily routine, never contributed to building the consideration that deserves Dentistry.

However, the class of dentists also has its share of responsibility in the lack of social appreciation of his work. It is for the dentist himself fighting for his credibility in the overall provision of health care. The respect of a letter should begin the exercise by themselves.

So are dentists who should develop their manual of good practices and demand, through the structures created for this purpose, the ethics and codes are applied in everyday clinical practice. Any profession organized in a cooperative has the duty to criticize the bad practice. Thus, in addition to a professional code of points in a broad sense, it is essential to create lines of concrete and explicit conduct for the various professionals.

Thus it is imperative to create a manual of best practices and structuring teams, so qualified and independent, oversee the conduct of dentists. Within this guide to good practice should include, for example, guidelines in the field of therapy since, despite the dentist have a wide option of prescription, it should limit this power to a particular therapy should not prescribe medications that are not in scope of his clinical practice. They must also dentists, through a consensus with other professional groups, and determine common areas of action distinct from dentists, doctors, dentists, medical specialists in maxillofacial surgery and to hygienists.

It is also essential to establish the legitimacy of the dentist performing the duties for which it was formed or prepared, including consultations with smoking cessation or aesthetic treatments such as botulinum toxin.

Also to structure a credible image of their profession, the canons set for good clinical practice should depart from the logic of the market that have been exposed through shocking advertising campaigns and marketing techniques. It is essential that patients can distinguish that a dentist is different from toothpaste and a retailer that logic is not applied to the provision of health services.

Finally, the credibility of the profession of dentist is also the respect that should exist between colleagues. Through legislation, dentists must enact an enabling solidarity to fight against under-employment which we realize and apply the logic of dignity among those who hired labor are hired.

======================================

III - EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE,

ACCURACY IN EDUCATION

Education and human capacity are synonymous (Francis Bacon). Despite his obsession with the mouth movements and the anatomy of the teeth, Francis Bacon never imagined being cited to illustrate the importance of education in the quality of dentistry. The excellence of the dentist goes through their superiority in terms of education, science and ongoing training.

At the level of education, university education is facing a big problem: way too many professionals with skills that are too fragile. If it becomes worrisome excess of professionals, more disturbing is the lack of preparation with which they leave for the labor market. Taking advantage of the Bologna Process, institutions of higher education increased the number of jobs created and multiple types of graduate school to tackle the funding problems they faced.

Thus, while it robs knowledge on pre-intentions have witnessed a declining trend of the powers conferred on graduates dentists. All this to justify the creation of specialized courses and to secure lucrative jobs in the domes of teaching. Contradictory as it seems it is taught to students today less than at the time of the firstborn Canteras.

Thus, there is urgent need to interfere constructively at the level of Higher Education. Recent history shows that self-regulation is inconsistent and the Order of Dentists to press these institutions to adapt the numerus clausus the needs of the labor market, to establish principles of excellence in school curricula and inculcate a doctrine of accuracy where inbreeding and terrorizing the students become a vague memory of the past

Moreover, for a dentist to reach a level of superiority is essential that recycle their knowledge. Thus, it is essential to promote conferences and trainings that more than vanity fairs and brands of materials, asserting themselves as scientific events of reference. This calls for an annual conference with a smaller range of subjects and knowledge that promotes quality. A smaller number of rooms centered on issues of relevance are fundamental changes to make a difference in this event. Credibility to this conference will be crucial that the inevitable events associated business move away from the decadence of a simulator game situations.

This conference, as other mandatory training which should be promoted by the Order of Dentists, should be part of a credit system upgrade required.

Like other professional bodies, the Order of Dentists (OMD in Portuguese language) should require the recycling of serious professional dentistry. Concomitantly, the dentist should be supported in their everyday clinical practice. The creation of a group of clinical decision support is a key idea to achieve the short period of time in order to assist the dentist in more complex clinical situations.

Also in this context the creation of guidelines (which are more than translations of foreign documents), it is essential to guide and protect the dentists in their practice.

To complete this triad of obtaining primacy in dentistry is essential to foster the creation of knowledge, stimulate research in dentistry and deny the doldrums of small amounts that we observe the creation of review articles.

* * *

RECYCLE THE ORGANIZATION, INNOVATION APPROACH, dreaming about the future - Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change for men (Confucius).

The Dentistry in Portugal requires an openness to society and simultaneously to a restructuring of its guidelines. We need a new leadership with greater statesmanship. The Order of Dentists to think more globally, to defend doctors and dentists in particular, fighting for the common good of the population.

You need a break from this desire to maintain the status quo and achieve more of what is considered satisfactory. It is time to promote the prestige of the profession and to democratize access to medical and dental care. That dentistry is done according to art.

* * *

Signatories

(Sign here)

425. Researchers from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Oporto validate dental diagnosis based on photos

A study of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Oporto (FMUP) concluded that remote diagnosis of dental problems in children, based on photographs, is a valuable resource in the selection of who should be referred to a dentist.

The investigation has gone through two stages of evaluation. The analysis, by four dentists, three photographs of the teeth (front view, top and bottom) of 66 children aged between 4 and 6 years - each dentist completed a questionnaire based on compliance with the photos, available on the system MedQuest Developed by FMUP, indicating the oral problems screened and whether the child should or should not visit the dentist. That said, the child was assessed in a traditional dental appointment. Comparing the results of two types of evaluation, remote diagnostics (teledentistry) demonstrated a sensitivity between 94 and 100 percent and a specificity between 52 and 100 percent.

In Portugal, the smaller ones show a high prevalence of cavities in just six years, and only after this age begin their dental visits. The sooner treatment is given, earlier oral health is ensured.

Teachers themselves in school and taking photographs using the available technologies, increase the viability of oral health campaigns in schools, regionally and nationally. In the long term can think of a dental home, according to Rui Amável (Centre for Research in Information Systems and Technologies in Health-CESIMED, FMUP) and Ricardo Cruz-Correia (Service of Biostatistics and Medical Information FMUP), the study authors.

The combination of telecommunications and dentistry - teledentistry - allowed for the exchange of clinical information and images for the purpose of facilitating access to pediatric primary care. Despite this model being used successfully in many medical specialties, is not as widely accepted and used in dentistry. But the authors said the development of remote diagnostics will only benefit dental care, improve diagnosis and dental services.

Telediagnosis through digital photographic technology, presented as identifying potential dental problems and is a resource to explore.

Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto

424. The drama also oral health in the Autonomous Region of Madeira

The Regional Health Service in our region is too serious shortcomings. Addressing the situation of Oral Health, although there was some effort to improve this service, the reality today is very dramatic. The shortcomings of users reaching desperation.
For example, students with more than 12 years, belonging to disadvantaged families or have to be very poor, are not entitled to a dental service in a prompt, efficient and, in some cases not even have no chance solve the problem of oral health. I present a concrete situation and truthful.

In December 2009, my student was in class with toothaches. Head lying on the desk with a scarf wrapped on his face. He could not stand the pain. The tears flowed on his face. He said that a few days ago was awakened by a slight pain, like worse then their poor financial resources, went to the Health Center, the family doctor who sent it to the hospital. However, despite the urgency, had no right to consult a dentist's Regional Health Service, because he already had 15 years of age.

So new query to the family doctor, one more week, then the doctor at the state and no alternative, such as toothache kept the teenager, prescribed some antibiotics and some painkillers to try to remedy the situation and thus postpone the unavoidable.

A scandal. Astounded at the story of the student and touched by the situation because the student had no social conditions for a private dentist and had too old to be treated at the hospital, I had to act.

Not part of my philosophy of life stand to watch and do nothing. Although the student was a better time, as has been numbed with drugs, but just what effect has the excruciating pain returned. There she was lost in pain. And I know what's toothache.

However, I contacted the outset, the head of the class who tried to do everything possible to resolve the problem but no solution could be through the School. The insurance did not cover the much less school social action and, therefore, the school was tied helplessly.

I remembered calling my dear friend André Escórcio to require their help. How do I know that is a man preoccupied with these situations of injustice and has more experience than me, I asked him for help.

He made his contacts and here comes a solution. The Head of the class should contact the Social Worker of the student's area of residence for this technique to make the study of family and then to prove that the family had not really economic conditions to pay a private dentist, then it prompted the intervention of the Security Social. And so it was. The social worker was contacted, made the process of family assessment, which took a few days.

The director told me in class, last Friday, that the case, finally, more than a month later, will be referred to Social Security. It will be! Today I had class with the student and asked if we had the consultation and told me, very much satisfied that everything was resolved and now all that remained to make an appointment. Has not been consulted! You still have the pain, milder, because the painkillers fulfill their role.

We are very pleased with the outcome, although dissatisfied with the delay and the time wasted on unnecessary bureaucracy. This is the reality of our regional health system. The student was lucky to have found teachers concerned and attentive to detect the state of your health and not rest until they found a solution, despite the slowness of the process. However, this is a mere case.

How this student there are hundreds unsolved.

Urbanidades da Madeira

* * *

This case goes beyond all bounds of human dignity. I hope the authorities, notably the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health to establish responsibility and know where the system failed. Why can not the girl was immediately referred to a dentist or a dentist?

After all what good is the school social action and the dentist's Regional Health Service?

423. One country, different regions and different approaches to intervention from the Dental Association

The leader of the Order of Dentists in the Autonomous Region of Madeira stresses that there are 14 dentists working in the health centers of the region on a rotational basis. At the health center of Bom Jesus work 11 (and four hygienists, one of them within the coordination of the Oral Health Programme) and three in Porto Santo, and in Porto Moniz service delivery is done by those professionals, all days of the week on a rotational basis.

Gil Alves welcomes the announcement of one more seat (which can be a dentist or work full time on a rotating basis) in Bom Jesus and another at the health center of Machico.

It is noted that in Porto Moniz all children are served the county until the age of 18, while in the Bom Jesus only up to 12 years. In the first are also treated all adults with chronic conditions do not allow them to travel to Funchal to transact their dental treatments. In the municipality of Porto Santo care is extended to all residents.

Gil Alves also notes that are provided at the health center of Bom Jesus, school emergencies in the dental traumatology students from three to 18 years, since the academic year 2005/2006, following agreement between the SARS and the Secretariat Education.

Jornal da Madeira

* * *

The news gets to know that the Order of Dentists in Madeira stands for a dental public health at Health Centres in the region. One day we will also apply this example in Portugal?

422. Father, can I be when I grow teeth dentist to treat the other children?

The combination of the economic interests of the Government and the purpose of the Order of Dentists in the future to restrict the number of dentists could cause a drastic reduction of the accessibility of most of its population to oral health care in coming years.

==========================

Asked about the possible recruitment of more dentists to the National Health Service, the State Secretary of Health Manuel Pizarro assured that this is not the strategy of the Ministry of Health. This strategy would mean that we would put the National Health Service (SNS) to compete with a network that already exists throughout the country offices and clinics of dentistry. From the viewpoint of general national interest that would not be a good strategy and would double the investment to substitute cooperation for competition, he argued.

To re-elected president of the College of Dentists, the improvement rates of population's access to oral health care is a top priority, but noted also the excess of dentists as a problem to solve. Unfortunately this leads many hundreds of dentists to have to find other countries to practice and obviously this is a frustration for younger doctors who see great possibilities for the profession in Portugal and this is a major problem, pointed Orlando Monteiro.

For Orlando Monteiro, the problem is solved with the adequacy of the number of vacancies in each of the seven colleges to the real needs of the country, as well as greater investment in colleges and postgraduate courses in Lusophone Countries, where there is a huge shortage of dentists. That colleges are geared more towards quality rather than quantity as for the case today, he added.

Iol Sociedade

* * *

I want to express, first and on behalf of all oral health professionals who still work in the National Health S ervice, the biggest repudiation by the statements and intentions expressed by the State Secretary of Health Manuel Pizarro. This is a completely in opposition to the interests of the population, against all professional public that we still have in the area of oral health and only demonstrates the underlying interest to dismantle what remains of the National Health S ervice and create conditions that oral health is in the hands of private with absolute greed for profit.

More: putting the National Health Service to compete with a network that already exists throughout the country offices and dental clinics would be the best way to promote quality and reduce costs by encouraging the population. The design competition is to avoid an unnatural idea, we all studied the times of socialism in the Soviet Union and we all know what the results were.

Regarding the position of limiting the number of dentists, it is a stand against the Constitution and a clear violation of the aspirations of young people who want to come to practice dentistry in the future, it would be a serious intervention into the market oral health, would seriously undermine the overwhelming majority of its population and would contribute to strengthening the already dramatic social contrasts in access to oral health care.

Portugal, by contrast, is in urgent need of extending the offer to provide oral health services to meet the pressing needs, this is only possible with a still substantial enlargement of the number of dentists in order to reach the most remote regions geographically and contribute to better market regulation assigned to the area of health, contributing to a better quality of services and a significant reduction in costs.

In short, this time there is still a clear lack of dentists in Portugal and the fact that many leave abroad does not contribute to better oral health in Portugal, especially after having been formed at the expense of our taxes.

Better self regulation of the activity and the opening of specialty hospitals and public health centers should be the first priority to take into account both by government and Dental Association.

Does it not occur to any parent stop a child from wanting to become a dentist.

421. Oral health in the Project Area is the twelfth year of schooling

Link:

Project Area of School Francisco Fernandes Lopes (Olhão)

* * *

The Project Area is a discipline of the twelfth year of schooling that aims, among other things, promote educational and vocational guidance of students, listing the projects developed within their context of work and career or prepare for further studies and insertion in the labor market.

It was in this discipline that this blog appeared. We are students of the twelfth grade of the course Science and Technology, School of Dr. Francisco Fernandes Lopes (Olhão), and we intend to develop over the years the Oral Health topic, focusing especially on youth.

This blog will then serve as a means of reporting all that the group will perform throughout the year and all events and initiatives that are being streamlined.

420. Portuguese children: State issued checks without dental coverage

Father, my check bounced

* * *

In September, Jose Carlos received a voucher to the dentist for her daughter to be seen for free at a private clinic. The date was June, but only reached him three months later. Still, he called the office and made an appointment. He managed to wave in November.

Weeks later, he received a letter home to pay for the consultation, because the check-dentist was out of time. The complaint went to the Minister of Health, through the deputy of PCP Bernardino Soares, but the check issued by the State bald father to this port is not unique.

The coordinator of the National Oral Health, Rui Calado, admits he has received several complaints. But as the computer system does not allow coupons register after the deadline, states that there is no way to know how many checks were delivered to schools after the date, or how many parents have missed the limit by accident. If it is proved that the delays were in our services or schools, to find a solution, he asserts.

I on Line

* * *

The simplest formula to humiliate the parents of children who require dental checks of the National Oral Health aimed at children and young people.

419. Which way forward for the Order of Dentists?

Portugal remains in the XXI century, without defining a strategic policy in the context of oral health. Governments continue to simply ignore the importance of oral health for the well-being of people and many hundreds of thousands of children and young people remain without any prospect of having access to oral health consultations in good time. Our country continues to discriminate against the citizens' access to oral health care, violating any principles of human dignity, not respecting international conventions it has signed, including the Charter of the Rights of the Child.

Currently, Portugal, oral health is only accessible to the privileged social classes, including the bourgeoisie, allied to political power and economic force, the overwhelming majority of the working class, pensioners, retirees and dependents are manifestly unable to gain access to oral health by SNS (National Health Service), which offers no answers to the needs of the population.

We all know that there is lack of economic resources, the problem lies solely in the bad government we have today, heavy and overly bureaucratic and administrative, stealing billions of euros annually from our taxes to support jobs that simply do not produce anything for the country, all this money should revert to the pressing needs of the population and the state should dramatically reduce many cabinets full of unproductive people who are useless to a country that wants to be modern and developed, persists while the current model of public administration.

It's completely false the idea that it is extremely costly to create a national network of oral health care in all health centers in the country, this mercantilist conception of health has no pertinence, because health can not be bought or sold. We all know that oral health prevention can save a fortune endless financial resources in the medium and long term, so that any investment made today will quickly be amortized in the future, augmented by huge gains in health improvement.

In this regard, the crucial position of the Order of Dentists; it should have to choose between the option of continuing to let everything be as it is or if you really want to contribute towards radically changing the policies followed by oral health in Portugal.

The choice is simple: to continue being a country where only the privileged have access to oral health, given that only have the private profit interests and see oral health as a business (doing nothing to prevent and combat oral diseases In order to guarantee themselves a niche market in the medium and long term, constituting an obstacle to any improvement in overall oral health of its population and behaving as in most third world countries, where economic interests overlap social interests), or changes its direction and understand oral health as well as an essentially social (not economic), elementary and fundamental to all people, fighting for full integration of oral health in the SNS (National Health Service) and the universality of access to all citizens, without discrimination on the basis of their economic possibilities and striving for a clear and manifest soon prevention of childhood.

Is the Order of Dentists to match the requirements of civil society and population, not to be swayed by the interests of the political regime installed and the economic groups, the first only interested in hunting to vote and to be perpetuated in power and only the second win in money in return for public health?

418. Involution of oral health in the National Health Service

Oral Health is arguably a decisive element in the general welfare of the people and the attitude of compartmentalization, which involves a view of the mouth in the non-holistic or integrated, is the cause of negative and sometimes permanent changes in the overall health of individuals, thus In their quality of life.

Oral diseases are the most common chronic diseases. Moreover the current Portuguese Constitution states:

Article 64. º Health

1. Everyone has the right to health protection and the duty to defend and promote.

2. The right to health protection is achieved:

a) through a national health service and general and universal, taking into account the economic and social conditions of citizens require;

b) the creation of economic, social, cultural and environmental conditions that guarantee, inter alia, the protection of children, youth and old age, and the systematic improvement of living conditions and working as well as the promotion of physical culture and sports in schools and popular, and for the development of health education for the people and practices of healthy living.

3. To ensure the right to health protection, primary duty to the State:

a) ensure access for all citizens, regardless of their economic circumstances, care of preventive medicine, curative and rehabilitative;

b) ensure a rational and efficient coverage of the whole country in human resources and health facilities;

c) to guide its work for the socialization of the costs of medical care and medicines;

d) to regulate and supervise the business and private forms of medicine, linking them to the national health service, to ensure, in the institutions of public and private health, adequate standards of efficiency and quality;

e) to regulate and control the production, distribution, sale and use of chemical, biological and pharmaceutical products and other methods of treatment and diagnosis;

f) establish policies for preventing and treating drug addiction.

4. The national health service is decentralized and participatory management.

Thus, regardless of what the Constitution calls for the country as we saw in relation to other areas of Health, the State generally better or worse, has been met, but now with regard to the area of oral health, may said that there was a regression in relation to what existed before April 25, 1974. To date, the New State contained in the ranks of the former Provident Fund offices of Dental Medicine, where they were practiced at least some basic treatments.

But after April 25, although in the new Health Centres then created, some of them want United States aid, both from Sweden and Norway, contained offices of Dental Medicine, which gradually came to be dismantled, not giving the opportunity to new dentists in abundance that started coming out of colleges, would eventually be integrated into the SNS, just like the other clinical areas of health, to provide functionality to such offices, providing access to oral health care to the general Portuguese population, which is the same as bald as the fundamental law of the country so determines.

Knowing the state Oral Health of individuals produces significant effects on their quality of life and that some aspects of oral pathology has implications:

Not only Physics,

- How Psychic,

- And turn Social.

Consider:

a) Some studies have shown that a child affected by caries at 3 years of age have on average less than one kilogram of a child without caries;

b) The occurrence of infection and pain can change their eating habits and sleep disturbances (irritability);

c) The estimated number of hours lost from school for reasons related to oral health is 117 000 per 100,000 children;

d) These impacts daily activities are not limited to the individual, also end up affecting your family;

e) Thus also the society in general.

We also know that the whole cascade of problems associated with oral diseases are not limited to younger age groups may be even more significant in the elderly, who experience rates of edentulism (missing teeth), which ranges from 30 to 70% as communities, treatment practices and the availability of rehabilitation (technical and budget). It will be noted that the dietary choices of elderly individuals are often compromised and thus may cause significant nutritional deficits.

One of the aims of the Primary Health Care is the reduction of social inequalities among individuals, especially in relation to health, will therefore be necessary to increase the attention on Oral Health Care, for accessibility to such care can translate into valid results and staff for the General Health of individuals. However, the lack of Oral Health Professionals (Doctors and dentists Dentist) in the overwhelming majority of the Portuguese Health Centres and the limitations of Oral Hygienists in the treatment of some diseases of the oral cavity have led to one of the lowest rates of dental treatment Europe, a fact perfectly compatible with policies for the budgeting of the Portuguese Ministry of Health Oral Health of 0.0035% of the total budget.

In contrast to the previously mentioned:

- Some studies have classified as oral treatments rooms most expensive of all treatments;

- Many developed countries spend between 50-10% of its budget for Public Health Oral Health. As examples, in some Spanish provinces, the rate of oral treatment in children and adolescents over 80%.

In our country, by order No. 153/2005, 5 January, which set the objectives of the National Oral Health Promotion (PNPSO) reducing the incidence and prevalence of oral diseases in children and young people, improving the skills and behavior about oral health and promoting equity in the provision of oral health care to children and youth with special health needs, was underway by 2007, a School Oral Health Program, in which dentists or dentists, received per patient € 75, they had many or few treatments to do, ie, the state appealed, and appeals to the excess supply / demand and a competitive way, to make oral health, on top of the current agreement with OMD (the Medical dentists), which I think is not the correct path, as many times as it takes into disrepute by encouraging the neglect and poor professionalism on the part of many professionals who get caught in the flurry of others that go every year for a multitude of Colleges (7), given the present needs of the country, without regulatory frameworks in fact, whether existing medical associations, unions, or more recently the Regulators, are forced to participate in these campaigns opportunistic Ministry of Health, the Conventions and even the insurance companies, each with its own rules and tables obsolete and limiting, in a true chaos of service offerings and economicíssimo maladjusted to reality.

More recently, from 2008, with the order No. .4324/2008, 19 February, was given the extension of the PNPSO two other groups deemed particularly vulnerable (pregnant women and elderly people in need) and developing an intervention strategy oriented to the provision of oral health care to a much larger number of children and youth. So PNPSO, now covers:

1 - Pregnant women followed in the SNS - Sum of assigned dental checks (maximum 3) can not exceed 120 € (the execution of the treatments can be completed within 60 days after delivery);

2 - Beneficiaries of the solidarity supplement for older users of the SNS - Sum of assigned dental checks (maximum 2) may not exceed 80 € per year;

3 - Children and Youth under the age of 16 years - Sum of assigned dental checks (maximum 2) may not exceed 80 € per year.

For the purposes of Removable Prosthodontics, there is a financial contribution to 75% of expenditure for the purchase and repair of removable dentures for up to € 250 per period of 3 years.

Conclusion:

From everything stated above and given the disclosure of data to check the current OMD, the Sun newspaper on 13/11/2009, the number of users of the SNS has benefited from 305,382 to date, so here is concludes that although the Portuguese population is of a few million (Portugal, including Azores and Madeira an estimated population of 10,529,255 people - INE estimate of the December 31, 2004, representing a population density of 114 persons per square kilometer ) the number of users above treated under the SNS National Programme for the Promotion of Oral Health (PNPSO) is negligible if not ridiculous, and this program does not comply with what is recommended in the fundamental law of the country, since the point of view of oral health, citizens are being treated in a preventive, curative and rehabilitative, equally universal and tend to free.

Clínica Dento-Médica - Dr. Sílvio Ribeiro, Ldª.

* * *

SNS - National Health Service in Portugal

417. Audit says dental checks discriminate patients in defiance of the law

Were announced in 2007 as the first step in providing the population oral health care - so far lacking in National Health Service but the Court of Auditors (CT) believes that dental checks issued by the previous Socialist government for children, youth , pregnant and elderly low-income violate the principles of universal and equitable access to health care.

The audit now published on the National Oral Health states that were not covered all children and young people of school children from three to 16 years, nor those attending public schools, with no explicit legal basis. And he makes the recommendation to Health Minister Ana Jorge, to ensure the legality, extending this service to all users.

Between 2006 and 2008 - the year the program was done under contracts with dental practices - the TC indicates that 95% of the school population has not benefited from the program, which shows a lack of efficiency and universality. Until they were provided 15 million and were used only 11.7 million euros.

This is just one of several repairs left by CT. The audit says the funding is not clear nor transparent (because it is divided by three institutions) and stresses that only two Regional Health Administrations have programs for quality assessment. The audit concludes that even in the face of not conducting periodic inspection or verification of establishments and clinical audits of care provided, there are risks associated with passenger safety and confirmation of care paid by check.

The TC raises doubts about the price paid for each treatment - which was negotiated with the Order of Dentists, but not based on any study - and makes a broad set of recommendations. From the choice of healthy foods in schools with measures that discourage the free sale and products harmful to oral health in the vicinity.

On the issue of universality, the Ministry responded to the progressive nature of the program, taking into account the existing budget, and the choice of a population more vulnerable to kick-start initiative. As the proposed measures for schools, states, several contradictory points outside the competences of that Ministry.

Rute Araújo
iOnline

* * *

Truly disturbing the findings of the Court of Auditors, in addition to any irregularities and disregard for the equal treatment of all citizens (even worse when done by the state), is deeply regrettable that the program annually reaches only one in every twenty children.

Translating in other words, this oral health program implemented by the governments of the Socialist Party will not reach all children within 20 years, that if anyone born in Portugal in two decades, and assuming that some of the existing children have access to the program since then having completed 30 years of age.

416. Institutional advertising: 'Always Smiling' costs 385 000 €

The Directorate General of Health (DGS) spent 384,933 euros on the campaign 'Always Smiling'. The 11 contracts, which include production of a video and pay television advertising time to, were all made on the basis of direct negotiations, ie without recourse to contest. The acquisition of the design services of an advertising spot, alluding to good oral hygiene practices within the National Programme for the Promotion of Oral Health, was hired for Utopia Filmes and cost the coffers of DGS 35 892 euros.

By issuance of this branding campaign in May, the DGS has paid 29,098 euros to RTP, 37,326 euros to SIC, 53,604 euros to TVI and 9144 euros to ZON - SIC Notícias. In September, the video where kids talk about their dental checks, again appeared on several television channels. By this time, the DGS has paid over 49,524 euros to RTP, 54 539 euros to SIC and 58 581 euros to TVI. The lead time on all contracts was 21 days.

Beyond the advertisement was still contracted to the company Look Concepts creative design services for brochures, on three occasions. In total 57 260 euros was paid for about one million of tryptic informative.

On day 12 the Portuguese Court of Auditors criticized the funding model of the Oral Health Programme, which in his opinion has not been structured in a transparent manner.

Correio da Manhã

* * *

This action disclosure of a program already fallen into disrepute and contrary to the principle of equity in the provision of oral health care is absolutely disgraceful and unacceptable in any civilized country. How can the Directorate General of Health sizes promote waste resources by allocating funds to RTP is a public company, already supported by public funds or private media?

This is purely criminal acts by withdrawing funds that were to be fully spent on medical care, severely hindering so unspeakable, the scarce resources allocated for oral health in the National Health Service (SNS) to the overwhelming majority of its population.

Instead of investing for example by granting funds to schools and giving an oral health card to each child and teenager in the country, the Directorate General of Health, with the connivance of the Ministry of Health and the passive role of the Order of Dentists, proclaims a discredited program of oral health in jeopardy by the Court Portuguese, filling the pockets of money to some media colluded with the current political regime and robbing the expectation of access to oral health of many hundreds of thousands of children and adolescents country.

415. Statistic 2009

414. SPAIN: Examples of investment in oral health

The Dentibús reached Albacete, offering free dental checkups for the entire population - Closer to the population, educate and raise awareness about the oral care and prevention of oral diseases. This is the objective pursued by another year the coach of oral health in the Plaza del Altozano of Albacete, a project organized by the Official Board of Dentistry and Stomatology in collaboration with College of Dentists of Albacete.

This bus will serve as the roving dental office. Since last Monday, the team of dentists that is Dentibús makes revisions to all free people who come to the square of Altozano. The dental bus will remain parked until next Wednesday and will move through the municipalities of the province to reach as many people as possible will Hellín Thursday and Friday at La Roda. The bus is equipped with the materials needed for screening and diagnosis of various oral health problems facing the population.

Dental experts offer information to the general public about preventing common oral diseases. This project is part of a national campaign for oral health disease prevention, this time the bus has traveled throughout the Levant and this stage ends with a visit to Albacete.

Dentibús coordinator in our province, María Rosa López, says that in just one day can get to meet about 75 people, exceeding a hundred in the weekend periods. The revisions are designed to perform all the general population, while according to the dental team working on this project pays particular attention to correcting the habits acquired by children as well as to educate on the need for good hygiene daily. Gonzalo Hidalgo, Albacete Dentibús dentist explains that primarily serve prosthetic problems, periodontal and common conditions such as cavities.

Laverdade.es

* * *

Spanish dentists and dentists give the Mayor of Murcia Award - Mayor, Miguel Ángel Cámara, you will receive prize tonight Oral Health Promotion, which has been granted by the General Council of Colleges of Dentistry and Stomatology of Spain. The event, held in Madrid, will be attended by some 200 people and is chaired by the prime minister, Manuel Alfonso Villa Vigil, and will also be attended by the President of the College of Dentistry and Stomatology of Murcia, Oscar Castro.

The oral health program for children and the agreement for preferential treatment for older people with limited resources launched by the city of Murcia are two programs that have received the recognition of Spanish dentists. For over 15 years and through the School Health Program, children 6 to 12 years the town go to the municipal offices of Beautiful Plaza to make their revisions and fluoride application, and are referred to appropriate services when they require other care. More recently, in 2005, launched another program to offer a preferred oral care to the elderly, through the municipal social services. Through this initiative, pensioners who need prostheses, can use this service if their cost exceeds the benefit provided free health care system.

Teleprensa.es

* * *

Problems are always resolved when there is a will. Shall apply in Spain are good examples in the prevention of oral health and local political leaders are aware.

In Portugal still had much to do in the area of prevention, both for oral health professionals but also by the mayors and central government.

It is urgent that we can all give our best so that we can radically change the face and dramatic and tragic current landscape of the oral health of its population.

413. President of the Dental Association wants to negotiate with SNS table contributions to road users in private

The re-elected today president of the College of Dental Association (OMD), Orlando Monteiro da Silva, has promised to negotiate with government reimbursement for a table that users of the National Health Service (SNS) may resort to private dental clinics.

In comments to Lusa news agency, Orlando Monteiro da Silva found that the National Health Service (SNS) has not been able to meet the needs of oral health among the Portuguese and he defended the need to create a system of reimbursement of medical acts by the state along the private.

We are interested in negotiating a schedule of repayments of some acts of dentistry on the SNS in private clinics, he said.

EPA
* * *

Oral Health gives congratulations to the reelection of Orlando Monteiro and wishes him a highly skilful work during his mandate at the helm of the Order of Dentists.

The coming years will be of immense work in the area of oral health in our country; oral health can not continue to be marginalized by the SNS and is only available to the privileged and ruling classes, accomplices of the state apparatus and party installed in power in Portugal.

Is an urgent need to extend access to oral health care to all portuguese, without any discrimination on grounds of social class or income, because, after all, we are all Portuguese, who pay the taxes for the training of dentists.

412. Saturday dentists choose new president

About 6500 dentists choose a new president Saturday after a campaign marked by the difference in positions in relation to dentist-check, but with common features such as integration of these professionals in public services.

Orlando Monteiro da Silva, now president of the College of Dental Association (OMD) and a candidate for a fourth term, it is proposed to continue the important issues that are under negotiation with the Government. In comments to Lusa news agency, Orlando Monteiro da Silva stated that it is negotiating the extension of the dentist-check program, the negotiation of the reimbursement mechanism for consultations and the inclusion of dentistry in occupational medicine and dentists in hospitals and health centers.

The rival candidate, Fernando Guerra, told Lusa that the B List advocates measures that make a difference: We are key points to check the re-integration of dentistry and dentists, the amount of any national program of oral health. We also present a set of proposals that tend to balance dentistry and this involves the integration of dental practitioners in school health teams, the creation of a national emergency in the delivery of oral health and a health bulletin to newborns and all children in kindergartens, kindergarten and elementary education, explained Fernando Guerra.

Orlando Monteiro da Silva has already said he has two major concerns for this mandate: the integration of young people and dentists in order to enter the dental societies. The candidate noted that the last three years have passed from 5300 to about 7200 dentists, whereas it is necessary to sensitize public opinion and colleges to tailor the number of graduates every year out of college to real needs. Many young doctors are forced to emigrate because they have no place in Portugal, he stressed.

This is also a concern of Fernando Guerra, whereas there is a high number of entries in the courses of dentistry. There is a surplus of professionals and it is essential that OMD has replied to this by creating measures such as the creation of new specialties, defended Lusa. Fernando Guerra to be held a joint work with institutions of higher learning to be possible to reduce the number of entries and increase the places graduate of giving access to expertise that can and must create order.

Another proposal involves the List A registration in the register, without charge, the dental societies. We think this is an additional formula to have an increased control over what goes on in these societies, many of which require mainly young dentists the less dignified conditions in terms of professional practice, justified.

For the candidate list B is a set of measures necessary for the maintenance and viability of clinics and medical offices. We present concrete proposals to ease the problems of dentists and this has been the motto of our campaign, marking where the difference in the positions that the Dental Association has taken and with which we do not identify stressed Fernando Guerra.

Sol

411. Non-Governmental Organization - World Smiling

Mundo a Sorrir(http://www.mundoasorrir.org/)* * *

The NGO - Mundo a Sorrir (the World Smiling) comes in July 2005 to work in the health field, particularly in the area of Oral Health, with the main objective of causing the welfare of poor communities, excluded and marginalized. Taking the information and basic care for Oral Health to become a universal right and accessible to all individuals regardless of their economic position, cultural and social.

The World's Smiling, aims to be an organization that provides effective support and practical action and that their help is really felt close to the communities who most feel the wants and needs. Through specific projects and supported the NGO - the World Smiling, intends to set an example that can help improve the outlook for Oral Health in Portugal and the World.

Disclose, collate and exemplify what can be done differently to do better.

410. Check-dentist dominates campaign to Order

The dental checks threaten to dominate the struggle for leadership of the Order of Dentists. The current president calls the measure tooth and nail, but the opposition accused it of undermining the professional dignity.

Elections are scheduled for next December 12, but the debate has already begun to heat up a few weeks ago. Apart from proposals for each of the lists - which match up some points - he settled the controversy surrounding the National Program of Oral Health and especially the dental checks.

Instituted by the Ministry of Health for eight months, dental checks offer basic dental care for children, elderly and pregnant women in private clinics that adhere to the initiative and receive, for each query, the fixed value of 40 euros. Driven by the current president and candidate for reelection Orlando Monteiro da Silva, the program violates the dignity of the profession guarantees the opponent Fernando Guerra.

The candidate list B denounces a way, a model and an inconceivable period of operation, which does not contribute to the defense of the oral health of the population covered. With the amounts involved, there are treatments that are needed from outside, ensures Fernando Guerra, who argues that the check-dentist should not have a predefined value. There should be a different table for each treatment, he says, advocating for change of name of the measure for reimbursement of medical and dental instrument.
Fernando Guerra also accuses the current management of the OMD to go along with political power, to have been a major driver for the dissemination of dental checks. A measure that guarantees against the dignity of professionals, playing with surplus manpower in the market and reveals late payments at around five months. For the candidate, the Dental Association (OMD) has to be upstream of these programs, draw them and not limited to collude with them.

Orlando Monteiro da Silva, the list ahead of the elections, rejects the accusations of the opposition. The proposed overhaul of the program presented by the list B would equal the end of dental checks, ensures the current president. Why go back to the logic of a public health program: we must distinguish between the liberal practice of the profession and adherence to a voluntary program with agreed rules and they have to meet.

List A denies five months late in payments to dentists who have joined. There are delays, up to three months in some cases, but many of them stem from errors in billing for the professionals themselves. As for the treatments, Orlando Monteiro da Silva recalled that it was a social program, which involves the provision of basic treatments, as elected by a scientific priorities. It is not collude with power, guarantees, since it also criticizes what's wrong. And the facts belie the claims: there are over 3200 medical associates, nearly 350 000 people and covered 43 million euros allocated to the program.

Jornal de Notícias