Sir, I welcome the findings of the British Dental Journal's recent report Oral health awareness in adult patients with diabetes: a questionnaire study (BDJ 2011; 211: E12), which makes the clear and unequivocal link between gum disease and a number of systemic diseases, specifically diabetes and cardiovascular disease. I have long been working to raise awareness amongst our patients and students that good gum health equates to good general health, and this study is a significant step in the right direction towards spreading this message.

As the BDA rightly notes, the development of a new, outcomes-focused contract in England should enable dentists to adopt a more preventative approach to care. Successful outcomes should be measured by the number of clinical interventions we have prevented, rather than undertaken. However, in the spirit of the new NHS, and indeed the mantra of the new government, it is vital that our patients take responsibility for, and ownership of, their gum health. As the survey accurately notes, awareness of the association between gum health and diabetes amongst those with the long-term condition is shockingly poor.

Our own research shows that periodontal specialists and general dental practitioners are equally concerned about the wider health implications of periodontal disease for their own local health economy. The majority (80%) of respondents in a recent survey reported concern, particularly around diabetes and heart disease.1

In light of this renewed drive towards preventative healthcare in the UK, combined with the burden of periodontal disease on our ageing population, treatments that allow for proactive patient self-management of this condition should be welcomed by patients and dentists alike. It is imperative that I continue to strive to educate patients on the signs and symptoms of periodontal disease and ensure that they are well equipped with the necessary self-management techniques for effective preventative homecare.