1、The Economic Rationale for a Global Commitment to Invest in Oral HealthW H I T E P A P E RM A Y 2 0 2 4In collaboration with the American Dental Association,Colgate-Palmolive Company and Henry ScheinContentsImages:Getty Images 2024 World Economic Forum.All rights reserved.No part of this publication

2、 may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,including photocopying and recording,or by any information storage and retrieval system.Disclaimer This document is published by the World Economic Forum as a contribution to a project,insight area or interaction.The findings,interpretati

3、ons and conclusions expressed herein are a result of a collaborative process facilitated and endorsed by the World Economic Forum but whose results do not necessarily represent the views of the World Economic Forum,nor the entirety of its Members,Partners or other stakeholders.ForewordExecutive summ

4、aryIntroduction1 Oral health:Critical for overall health and well-being2 Better oral health lowers overall healthcare costs3 Oral health is a key driver of economic well-being4 The global burden of oral disease is growing5 When it comes to unmet healthcare needs,oral health stands out6 The cost of o

5、ral disease to the global economy is substantial7 The high level of unmet oral healthcare needs is rooted in health policy choices8 Moving forward:The need for a global commitment to investing in oral healthConclusionContributorsEndnotes34679101213151619212224The Economic Rationale for a Global Comm

6、itment to Invest in Oral Health2ForewordMore than 80 years ago,the World Health Organization(WHO)asserted that“the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being.”At that time,and even today,too few clinicians outside of the dental profes