Whole-Body Health Symposium 2026

Abstract

Many of our patients grow up with sayings like this, and many still believe dental treatment during pregnancy is unsafe. In Dubai, fewer than one in five pregnant women visit a dentist while pregnant. Meanwhile, rising hormones make the gingiva a target organ, pregnancy gingivitis is common, and existing periodontitis can progress.

This lecture approaches the pregnant patient as an investigation. It follows the trail from the periodontal pocket to the placenta, examines the biological pathways linking maternal periodontitis with preterm birth, and puts the evidence on trial: what observational studies suggest, what randomised controlled trials have shown, and what we can, and cannot, promise our patients.

The second half is practical: how to assess the pregnant patient, red flags in the chair, the safest timing for treatment, local anaesthesia and medications, positioning, managing the pregnancy epulis, when to refer to the periodontist or obstetrician, and how to coach exceptional oral hygiene from pre-conception to after delivery. Recommendations are aligned with current Dubai Health Authority guidance.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lecture, participants will be able to:

• Recognise the periodontal and oral changes of pregnancy and separate common myths from evidence.
• Explain the proposed links between periodontitis and preterm birth, and interpret what intervention trials show.
• Assess, treat and refer pregnant patients safely and confidently, in line with current UAE guidance.

Abstract

Pediatric oral health is an essential component of overall child health, influencing systemic well-being, growth, nutrition, emotional development, and quality of life. Untreated oral diseases can contribute to chronic inflammation, nutritional deficiencies, impaired concentration, and increased healthcare needs, while poor oral health habits established in childhood may persist into adulthood.

This presentation explores the oral-systemic health connection through current evidence and clinical cases. Participants will examine the mechanisms linking pediatric oral disease to systemic health, identify clinical warning signs, and explore evidence-based strategies for risk assessment, prevention, early diagnosis, minimally invasive management, and family-centred care. Emphasizing multidisciplinary collaboration, the session provides practical approaches to integrating oral health into comprehensive pediatric care and promoting lifelong health and well-being.

Learning Objectives

• Explain the relationship between pediatric oral health and systemic health, and its impact on child development and well-being.
• Identify the clinical manifestations and risk factors of pediatric oral diseases associated with systemic and psychosocial consequences.
• Recognize the psychosocial impact of oral health conditions on children's development and well-being.
• Discuss the economic burden associated with untreated dental issues in children.
• Analyze case studies demonstrating the outcomes of untreated oral health issues in children and the benefits of timely treatment.

Abstract

Diabetes and periodontitis are common, chronic conditions that influence each other. Diabetes increases the risk, severity and progression of periodontitis, while periodontal inflammation is associated with poorer glycaemic control. With about 589 million adults living with diabetes worldwide, around 1 billion people affected by severe periodontal disease, and a large share of diabetes in the UAE still undiagnosed, dental teams are well placed to make a difference.

This lecture presents the two-way relationship as a practical clinical story. Participants will review how hyperglycaemia and chronic inflammation interact, then learn to recognise the oral signs, history findings and risk factors that raise suspicion of poor control or undiagnosed diabetes. The session covers risk assessment before treatment, safe planning around meals and medication, management of hypoglycaemia in the dental setting, and a staged approach to periodontal therapy, including when antibiotics are appropriate and what diabetes means for dental implants.

Clear guidance is given on when to refer to a periodontist, when to request physician assessment, and how to triage urgent problems. The lecture also examines effective daily plaque control, including the technique and evidence for powered brushing compared with manual brushing, and what this routine can and cannot be expected to achieve for gum health, diabetes and general health. A practical decision pathway helps participants apply the material in daily practice.

Abstract

Mental and oral health are closely connected. People with severe mental illness have 2.8 times the odds of complete tooth loss, while dental fear and anxiety affect an estimated 15% of adults worldwide and are linked to care avoidance, poorer oral health and lower quality of life. The other side of the chair is also under strain. Anxious patients are among dentists’ most intense stressors. Burnout is estimated to affect about one in eight dentists, with high emotional exhaustion affecting one in four. Dental nurses and hygienists also report distress and burnout, but the wider dental team is often overlooked.

Learning Objectives

• Describe how mental health, oral health and dental team wellbeing are interconnected; 
• Use dental anxiety assessment tools to identify anxious patients; 
• Give anxious patients and practitioners a greater sense of control; 
• Manage dental anxiety or refer patients when appropriate; 
• Consider burnout and psychological distress in themselves and colleagues.

Abstract

The mouth is the starting point of the gastrointestinal tract, yet the relationship between oral health, nutrition and digestive health is often overlooked.

In this session, specialist gastrointestinal dietitian Kirsten Jackson explores how nutrition connects oral and gut health, from the role of chewing and saliva in digestion to the impact of oral health on food choices, dietary diversity and nutritional adequacy.

We will examine the role of key nutrients and dietary patterns in supporting both oral and digestive health, including fiber, calcium, vitamin D and hydration. The session will also explore where nutritional recommendations overlap and where they may differ, such as the consumption of acidic fruits, snacking frequency and food textures.

Drawing on current scientific evidence and practical examples, this session will equip healthcare professionals with a greater understanding of the relationship between oral health and nutrition, alongside practical dietary strategies to support health from mouth to gut.