Are social values reflected in the mouths of our old people?

Oral health, equity and ageing: SEMINAR

Are societal values reflected in the mouths of our old people?

When: 8 July 2024 at 12 noon to 1 pm

Where: Online/ B507-G007 

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Meeting ID:       978 6585 1540

Oral health in older people is a wicked problem representing the intersections of societal issues, structural and systemic failures and the invisibility of some health issues. Older adults are disadvantaged in terms of accessing dental care and often have poorer oral health outcomes. This may impact their quality of life and contribute to morbidity and mortality.

Oral health in older adults is impacted by intersections of marginalisation (socio-economic status, homelessness, mental health issues, racism etc). Linda will explore issues around this including social determinants, power and structural issues.

There are ways forward in terms of understanding and drawing on what happens internationally, inter-professional practice, and as always holding structural and power aspects to account.

In this talk she will draw on these concepts and discuss quantitative and qualitative research in this area including total population data and understanding perceptions of those involved and consider opportunities for future research, practice and translation.

About Linda Slack-Smith

Professor Linda Slack-Smith is a social epidemiologist at the University of Western Australia. undertaking qualitative, quantitative and translational research with her team and collaborators. Her work has focused on disparities and public health equity with a focus on oral health looking at groups with poorer outcomes including children, refugees, older adults and Aboriginal Australians.

Linda was recently awarded the Distinguished Scientist Award in Geriatric Oral Research for IADR (International Association for Dental Research) in New Orleans which impacts her University’s ranking; was senior author on the paper awarded the international Giddon Award for Distinguished Research in the Behavioral Sciences 2024 (with Durey, Naylor) and also 2018 (with Durey, McAullay, Gibson).

Internationally she is Editor Emerita of the journal Gerodontology (which represents 4 major international geriatric dentistry societies), recent President of the Geriatric Oral Health Research Group of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) and was IADR ANZ Division President 2015-2017. She was also Co-Chair of the Melbourne 2021 World Congress of Epidemiology.

Linda was also a recent President of the Australasian Epidemiological Association and was Scientific Committee Chair for the Public Health Congress in Hobart in 2015. She led a Worldwide Universities Network Collaboration in Oral Health and is partner on another collaboration in family and domestic violence. She is an executive and founding member of the Australian based Network for Integrated Oral Health. Her goal is to work with good people and do work of value that improves health outcomes for all, including those who have been disadvantaged.