Philips Oral Healthcare hosted its Scientific Symposium (18–19 June): Connecting the Mouth and Body in the 21st Century Healthcare (preceding their attendance at EuroPerio 9) which examined the mounting scientific evidence linking oral and systemic health.

Across two days of lectures and workshops, speakers discussed the newest developments in scientific research, including the significant shift in the perspective on oral health and overall wellbeing, and the changing role of digital technologies in oral care; particularly in the areas of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and pregnancy.

Keynote speaker, Professor Dr R. Bruce Donoff, Dean of Harvard School of Dental Medicine, shared his experience of the integration within the specialties of oral and maxillofacial surgery and oral cancer care, with his address 'Integrate oral health into medicine: past and future state'. Dr Niklaus P. Lang, Professor Emeritus at the University of Berne, offered an insight into 'Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT)', while new health insights emerged from Dr Alvaro Marco del Castillo, around the role of periodontal disease and inflammation in CVD.

Dr Bruno G. Loos, Professor at the Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam, demonstrated the need for close working relationships between the medical community and dental hospitals while Professor Dr Purnima Kumar DDS, a leading researcher on the human microbiome, shared findings on glycemic control and oral health. Dental hygienist Elmira Boloori addressed the association of periodontitis and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Facilitating the discussion throughout the day, Professor Iain Chapple set the scene looking at periodontitis and mortality using chronic kidney disease as a model systemic co-morbidity to address the question of whether periodontitis is causally linked to systemic diseases or whether the association is purely coincidental.

For more information about Philips Oral Healthcare visit https://www.usa.philips.com/c-m-pe/dental-professionals