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Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Gum health - who cares?
Ian Needleman1, Barbara Sturgeon2
1Past President, British Society of Periodontology 2017, Professor of Periodontology, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, London, UK. i.needleman@ucl.ac.uk.
Abstract:
Much of the British population have poor gum health which can affect their daily lives and general health. Surprisingly, we don't often hear from the public whether they care about this situation. Is this a lack of interest or a lack of opportunity to be heard? In addition, gum health, like overall health, requires people to take care of themselves and to take ownership of their condition. Whose responsibility is it to promote this care? In this article, a BSP Patient Forum member (Barbara Sturgeon) and clinician (Professor Ian Needleman) explore and discuss the issues surrounding: gum health - who cares?
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