Oral Health Matters

In the fifth episode of Series 2 of Oral Health Matters, host Richard Watt, Professor of Dental Public Health at University College London, is joined by two experts in health inequalities to discuss the pro-equity policy agenda.This conversation explores why researchers have often failed to influence policymakers effectively, despite 30 years of investigation into health inequalities. As the world faces the ongoing impacts of climate change and the aftermath of a global pandemic, this episode examines how to move beyond "lifestyle drift" and address the structural determinants of health. Our guests provide a deep dive into the necessity of a lifecourse approach and discuss how to pivot research so that communities are treated as knowledge holders and experts rather than just participants.Our Guests: · Yvonne Kelly – Professor of Lifecourse Epidemiology at UCL and Co-Director of the ESRC-funded Equalize program, focusing on health inequalities research. · Bulela Vava – Founder and President of the Public Oral Health Forum and lecturer in community dentistry at Wits University in South Africa. Oral Health Matters is produced by the Dental Public Health Group at UCL with funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).Follow the conversation by connecting with the Dental Public Health Group on LinkedIn, BlueSky, and Instagram.This is a Research Podcasts production.You can read a transcript of the conversation here.Episode CreditsPresenter: Richard WattUCL Guests: Yvonne Kelly and Bulela Vava Producer: Catherine McDonaldResearch Podcasts Editor: Anton Jarvis, Research PodcastsMusic: The Documentary, Mapamusic

In the third episode of Series 2 of Oral Health Matters, host Richard Watt, Professor of Dental Public Health at University College London, is joined by two leading legal and health researchers to discuss the intersection of international law and dental health. This conversation explores the shift from viewing health as an abstract value to a body of binding national and international standards that frame oral health as a fundamental human right. As global health agendas increasingly prioritize equity, this episode examines whether a country can truly achieve universal health coverage if oral health remains excluded or relegated to the private sector. Our guests provide a deep dive into the legal obligations of states to "respect, protect, and fulfil" the right to health, the impact of commercial determinants, and how human rights frameworks can serve as a powerful counterbalance to the influence of harmful industries. Our Guests: Dominique Mollet - Lecturer in the Faculty of Law at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Sara Laura Ferrari - Research Fellow in the Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences at the University of Milan in Italy. Oral Health Matters is produced by the Dental Public Health Group at UCL with funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Follow the conversation by connecting with the Dental Public Health Group on LinkedIn, BlueSky, and Instagram. This is a Research Podcasts production. You can read a transcript of the conversation here. Episode Credits Presenter: Richard Watt, UCL Guests: Dominique Mollet, University of Groningen and Sara Laura Ferrari, University of Milan Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts Editor: Anton Jarvis, Research Podcasts Music: The Documentary, Mapamusic

In the opening episode of Series 2 of Oral Health Matters, host Richard Watt, Professor of Dental Public Health at University College London is joined by two global leaders in dental public health to navigate the complex and often volatile intersection of politics and healthcare. As geopolitical landscapes shift toward populist agendas, what happens to the world's most vulnerable populations? This episode provides a critical look at how recent political changes in the US and the Global South are directly impacting oral health funding, research, and equity. From the removal of DEI programming in American universities to the withdrawal of major international health funding in South Africa, our guests explore whether this era of "chaos and uncertainty" can be a catalyst for new, innovative models of global collaboration. Our Guests:Dr. Bob Weyant - Professor of Dental Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh, USA, and a seasoned policy advocate.Dr. Khabiso Ramphoma - Associate Professor at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa, and a rising leader in global oral health research.Oral Health Matters is produced by the Dental Public Health Group at UCL with funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).Follow the conversation by connecting with the Dental Public Health Group on LinkedIn, BlueSky, and Instagram.This is a Research Podcasts production. Episode Credits Presenter: Richard Watt, UCLGuests: Bob Weyant, University of Pittsburgh and Khabiso Ramphoma, University of the Western Cape in South AfricaProducer: Catherine McDonald, Research PodcastsEditor: Anton Jarvis, Research Podcasts Music: The Documentary, Mapamusic

In episode 6 of Oral Health Matters, Richard Watt, Professor of Dental Public Health at University College London is in conversation withDr Benoit Varenne from the World Health Organisation and Dr Dympna Kavanagh, Chief Dental Officer in the Department of Health, Ireland. Together they discuss current and forthcoming developments in global and national oral health policy and how the research community can best support oral health as a public health priority around the world. Read a full transcript Credits Presenter: Professor Richard Watt, University College London Editor and producer: Chris Garrington, Research Podcasts Artwork and audiograms: Krissie Brighty-Glover and Lauren White, Research Podcasts Music: The Documentary, Mapamusic

In episode 4 of Oral Health Matters, Richard Watt, Professor of Dental Public Health at University College London is in conversation with Dr Lisa Jamieson from the University of Adelaide, Australia and Professor David Conway from the University of Glasgow, Scotland. Lisa has an international reputation for her work on indigenous oral health research and health inequalities and David is an expert in dental public health, oral cancer research and leadership of Childsmile programme in Scotland. Together, they’re discussing how we can best develop and nurture the next generation of oral health researchers. Read a full transcript here Further reading Childsmile – child oral health improvement programme for Scotland https://www.childsmile.nhs.scot/ AND https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/medicine/dental/research/childoralhealthchildsmile/ Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation https://www.citizenshandbook.org/arnsteinsladder.html Article by Bain et al (2013) Global Health Mentorship: Challenges and Opportunities for Equitable Partnerships https://gh.bmj.com/content/bmjgh/8/11/e013751.full.pdf Credits Presenter: Professor Richard Watt, University College London Editor and producer: Chris Garrington, Research Podcasts Artwork and audiograms: Krissie Brighty-Glover and Lauren White, Research Podcasts Music: The Documentary, Mapamusic

In Episode 2 we're in conversation with Professor Regina Mutave from the Department of Dental Sciences at the University of Nairobi and Professor Manu Mathur from the Centre for Dental Public Health from Queen Mary University London. We're discussing the challenges and opportunities for oral health research in the global south, asking what’s getting in the way of progress and what we can do about it. Read a full transcript here Further reading Action plan for oral health in South-East Asia 2022–2030 Credits Presenter: Professor Richard Watt, University College London Editor and producer: Chris Garrington, Research Podcasts Artwork and audiograms: Krissie Brighty-Glover and Lauren White, Research Podcasts Music: The Documentary, Mapamusic

Welcome to Oral Health Matters, a brand new podcast from the Dental Public Health Group at University College London and presented by eminent dental public health expert Professor Richard Watt.Read a full transcript of the trailer here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.