The Need for Interdisciplinary Collaboration between Dental Professionals, Nurses and General Practitioners to Control NCDs

Acute Numerous interventions have been put in place for the proper management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, NCDs remain a large threat to the health of human beings. Therefore, interventions must be effectively and efficiently implemented and have the desired outcomes with a collaborative approach between healthcare providers. Because oral diseases share risk factors with some NCDs, and given that there is a two-way association between both groups of diseases, an argument could be made that integrating dental professionals in the management of NCDs can be a key component in an effective response to tackling NCDs. This is due to dentists being skilled and experienced in preventing, controlling, and detecting oral diseases, which share common risk factors with NCDs. Aside from engaging dentists in the management of NCDs, nurses are another group of healthcare providers who can play a significant role in the prevention and treatment of NCDs when effectively utilized and given their access to a large number of patients who attend their services at all levels of the health system. From primary health care facilities to referral hospitals, various strategies to handle NCDs can be used. However, integrating the dental team and Nurses in tackling NCDs would be the best approach to reach positive health outcomes.

Keywords
Non-communicable Diseases; Oral health; Risk Factors; Dental Health Services; Nurses