Mr. Fintan Hourihan:

It is a fair comment. We have an ongoing struggle to illustrate the two-directional relationship between oral and general health. There is no doubt but that people tend to regard dentistry as somehow a stand-alone aspect of their general health. We try to educate the public on that and there are other bodies that do likewise. Many people do not make those connections and there are lots of scientifically established connections between oral and general health. Most people value a healthy smile but when they are pushed, it is the smile they are interested in and not what is behind it. We believe in the concept of a healthy smile. It is not just about the six front central teeth but about the whole of the mouth and dentition. It is fair to say that, for whatever reason, this connection is not as readily understood as it ought to be.