Preparing for D.A.M. 2004

The theme, "Beyond Teeth", has been selected for the 2004 campaign for Dental Awareness Month (D.A.M.). The entire month of August will be dedicated to a public awareness programme that encompasses a broad range of professions coming together in dental health. Community and service announcements will be broadcast on television and radio throughout the month to highlight the impact of dental health as an integral part of total health of all Australians.

Professional Associations and individual dental professionals will unite with professions outside of dentistry to emphasise the evidence-based correlation that lifestyles, general physical health and therapeutic treatments have on a person's oral health status.

More times than not, consumers tend to underestimate their dental treatment needs with the most distinct discrepancies in relation to periodontal conditions. Connections between gum disease and coronary vascular disease, as well as diabetes and pregnancy have been established in extensive research. Bringing the oral health message across congruent service-oriented professions will go further toward improving people's awareness and knowledge of their dental health.

Dental Awareness Month is a community awareness program coordinated and funded by the Australian Dental Association (ADA) Inc. and selected sponsors. The community dental health education campaign was initiated over 20 years ago. An expansion from Dental Health Week to the current Dental Awareness Month occurred in 2002 and is set to continue in this format to help implement the vital dental health messages across Australia.

The ADA and ADA state branches encourage dental professionals across Australia to get involved in activities to educate, build awareness and enhance oral health accessibility to the community during their heightened period of oral health awareness.