2 News DENTAL TRIBUNE Middle East & Africa Edition Countries in Asia less than average in health care spending Daniel Zimmermann DTI LEIPZIG, Germany: Asian countries have been found to spend less of their GDP’s for health care than most other countries in Europe and the US. According to a new health care report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Devel- opment (OECD) in Paris, only New Zealand provided more money for health care than the average of all observed countries. Japan, Korea and Australia, however, spent less than the OECD average of 8.9 per cent of GDP. The US currently spends more on health care than any other country—almost two and a half times greater than the OECD average of US$2,984, adjusted for purchasing power parity. Luxembourg, France and Switzerland also spend far more than the OECD average. At the other end of the scale, health-care expenditure in Turkey and Mexico is less than one-third of the OECD average. The latest edition of Health at a Glance demonstrates that all the countries observed could do better in providing good quality health care. Key indicators presented in the report provide information on health status and the determinants of health, in- cluding the growing rates of child and adult obesity, which are likely to drive higher health spending in the coming decades. Based on new data on access to care, the report demonstrates that all OECD countries provide universal or near-universal coverage for a core set of health services, except the US, Mexico and Turkey. DT Editorial Board Prof. Abdullah Al-Shammary, Restorative Dentistry, KSA Prof. Hussain F. Al Huwaizi, Endodontics, Iraq Prof. Samar Burgan, Oral Medicine, Jordan Dr. Abdel Salam Al Askary, Implantology, Egypt Dr. Talal Al-Harbi, Orthodontist, Qatar Dr. Mohammed H. Al Jishi, Bahrain Dr. Lara Bakaeen, Prosthodontist , Jordan Dr. Aisha Sultan, Periodontist, UAE Dr. Kamal Balaghi Mobin Aesthetics, Iran Jet 'to replace dentist's drill' DT Page 1 pain-free. Fear of fillings is a genuine phobia for some people, causing them to avoid visits to the dentist. A new study has shown that firing low-temperature plasma beams at dentine - the fibrous tooth structure below the enamel - can reduce bacteria levels by up to 10,000 times. Researchers in Germany tested the effectiveness of the plasma jet against common dental bugs including Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei. Both form films on the surface of teeth and are responsible for the erosion of tooth enamel and dentine that causes cavities. The scientists infected dentine from extracted human molars with four strains of bacteria and exposed it to plasma for between six and 18 seconds. The longer the treatment continued, the greater the amount of bacteria that was eliminated. Lead researcher Dr Stefan Rupf, from Saarland University in Homburg, said: "The low temperature means they can kill the microbes while preserving the tooth. The dental pulp at the centre of the tooth, underneath the dentine, is linked to the blood supply and nerves and heat damage to it must be avoided at all costs." DT DENTAL TRIBUNE The World’s Dental Newspaper · Middle East & Africa Edition President/CEO Yasir Allawi y.allawi@dental-tribune.ae Dr. D. Mollova info@cappmea.com Khawla Najib khawla@dental-tribune.ae Hussain Alvi dentalme@dental-tribune.ae Director mCME: Published by Education Zone in licence of Dental Tribune International GmbH © 2010, Dental Tribune International GmbH. All rights reserved. Dental Tribune makes every effort to report clinical information and manufacturer’s product news accurately, but cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims, or for typographical errors. The publishers also do not assume responsibility for product names or claims, or statements made by advertisers. Opinions expressed by authors are their own and may not reflect those of Dental Tribune International. Marketing manager Production manager PO Box 214592, Dubai, UAE, Tel + 971 4 391 0257 Fax + 971 4 366 4512 www.dental-tribune.com AD The new era in Aesthetic Dentistry 4th CAD/CAM & Computerized Dentistry International Conference 13-14 May 2010, Dubai The Address Dubai Marina Baby death linked to mum’s gum disease DT Page 1 care, the mother has since given birth to a healthy baby. Han says this points again to the growing importance of good oral health care. Collaborating with Han on the case study were Yann Fardini, Casey Chen, Karla G. Iacampo, Victoria A. Peraino, Jaime Shamonki and Raymond W. Redline. The study had support from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research in the US DT www.cappmea.com/cadcam4 lected plaque samples from her teeth. Using DNA cloning technologies, Han found a match in the bacterium in the mother's mouth with the bacterium in the baby's infected lungs and stomach. 'The testing strongly suggested the bacteria were delivered through the blood,' Han said. With preventive periodontal treatment and oral health First Emirati professor joins Masdar DT Page 1 grants from a Dh1.1 million fund while she was employed at UAE University. Dr John Perkins, the institute’s provost, said Dr al Ghaferi would make “a significant contribution” in both her research and teaching. “She is also an excellent role model for young people interested in pursuing a career in science and technology,” he said. There are now 22 faculty members at the institute recruited from universities around the world. DT gineering from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr al Ghaferi has won two Sheikh Rashid Awards for Academic Excellence for her undergraduate and postgraduate work. The prize is typically conferred upon several hundred Emiratis per year who have excelled in their studies. She has also received a fellowship from the US State Department and earned one of six British government research c and theti n Aes Mi D/CA ry ies ntist * CA rator ic De Labo thet ntal Pros M De ing D/CA rials Imag * CA Mate g and s nnin /CAM d Sca ystem * CAD erize ion S put igat * Com ation Nav ntic t n hodo Impla d Ort * rize pute and esign * Com nd D ment ing a nage Ma Plann rized pute and * Com onal g mati in Infor Plann rized pute are oftw * Com nal S atio Educ Estimated 14 CME Hours Platinum Sponsor Gold Sponsors Official Sponsors Other Industry Players CAPP Tel: +971 4 3616174 | Fax: +971 4 3686883 | Mob: +971 50 2793711 | info@cappmea.com