By Chioma Umeha
To boost the oral wellness of Nigerians, Procter
& Gamble’s oral care brand, Oral-B, has conducted a capacity building
seminar for Nigerian dentists which is aimed at growing their capacity.
This was made known at this year’s National Dental
Association Continuing Continuous Medical Examinations Education (CME) in
partnershi
Giving the opening remarks titled: ‘The
Exceptional Dentist- five years of New Paradigm for Enhanced Productivity’ at
the capacity building seminar for dentists recently in Lagos, Tolulope Adedeji,
Brand Marketing Director, P&G Nigeria, stated that the company is
sponsoring the CME for dentists in order to provide the necessary trends and
development to promote and ensure ample support for oral care hygiene of
Nigerians.
Adedeji also said: “The Oral B dental detailing
programme is aimed at educating dentists on oral care and to further develop
the professional competencies of practicing dental care professionals.”
Adedeji, describing dentists as critical partners
of the company’s oral care brand that launched in Nigeria, five years ago, said
“the more dentists know, the better they also can give services to patients as
they come.”
The Brand Marketing Director added: “To enable
Nigerians access qualitative dental care, it is necessary we equip our dental
care professionals on the constant innovations discovered in oral health care.”
One of the highlights of the capacity building
workshop was the exposure to dentists of the revolutionary and multipurpose
benefits of stabilised stannous toothpastes with references to the research
results on Stannous Fluoride with Nigerian patients.
In the key presentation of Dr Ayanbadejo, a foremost
periodontist in Nigeria and Lecturer at the Department of Preventive Dentistry,
University of Lagos who was represented by Dr Modupe ore Shorunke recommended
that Nigerians should be buying toothpastes with anti-bacterial agents to clean
their teeth, saying they are better in preventing tooth decay, tooth
sensitivity and gum problems.
Shorunke, an Associate Professor of Dentistry,
LASUCOM, explained that any toothpaste with anti-bacterial content were helpful
in preventing bacterial plaque which irritates the gums and can lead to gum
disease.
The Associate Professor said: “Currently, over 90
per cent of patients seen in our dental clinic have some degree of gum disease
across all age groups and socio-economic status.
Despite brushing every day, many people still find
it difficult to maintain that level of plaque control that ensures that the
gums are healthy. Just as fluoride is for prevention of tooth decay, so also,
anti-bacterial toothpaste helps to kill the bacteria and plaque that causes gum
disease.”
Oral-B, in partnership with the Nigerian Dental
Association (NDA), has benefited over 2000 dentists in Nigeria since the launch
in 2011 updating them with the latest development in the field of dentistry and
assisting them in their career growth.
