Most of the oral health disorders are preventable and can be treated in their initial stages, that's why you have to go to the dentist, because taking care of our mouth we take care of ourselves. Thus, Dr. Oscar Castro Reino, president of the General Council of Dentists of Spain, has gone through the microphones of La Linterna to analyze the current situation of the sector and explain why the 40 million euros contributed by the Government are not enough.

And it is that last June the Government approved the new Oral Health Plan increasing coverage for children under 14 years of age, pregnant women, patients with disabilities... But, can it be carried out? The president of the dental entity assures that it is “categorically impossible”. He explains that, currently, there are less than 1,000 dentists for 47 million potential patients.

“One thing is the will: 40 million euros of extraordinary European funds have been put in, but by doing a simple arithmetic operation we touch less than one euro per Spaniard. It is a first step, but you have to allocate a lot more money ”, he concludes.

Why do 94% of adults have cavities? Tooth decay, along with the common cold, is the most widespread disease in the world and, therefore, the president of the Council of Dentists explains in COPE that "you have to take precautions such as going to the dentist once a year and self-care: brushing teeth at least twice a day and use dental floss or mouthwash.” He explains that what you have to understand is that "the mouth is not something independent, but it is all connected, an infection in the mouth can cause a myocardial infarction or even premature labor." In our country there is a dentist for every 100-odd thousand inhabitants, something that the doctor explains that happens because the State only cares about the offer: "if new dental schools open, more than 40% of private dental schools Europe are in Spain”. Of course, he emphasizes that "many dentists are trained but the State does not worry about giving them outlets and they go to other countries where they are well paid while here many fall into the hands of vulture funds."

A State Health Advertising Law The expert also criticizes the advice of some influencers on social networks on oral health: "there is no room for one more fool, it is an attack, because one does not play with health," he categorically rejects. “When they tell you to file your teeth with a nail file, or when they tell you that if you go to Turkey they will put your teeth in and in many cases they fail…”

Finally, he wanted to influence the need for a State Health Advertising Law, something that, he assures, "is not a matter of the Council of Dentists of Spain, it belongs to all health workers." “We all came together and urged Parliament to legislate on misleading advertising. In Congress, a motion was unanimously passed to execute a Health Advertising Law. But the PSOE backed down and voted no, ”he recalls.

You can consult the interview published on the COPE website at the following link:

Interview with Dr. Oscar Castro