Early dental check-up a must for all Saudi kids

Dental check-up will become mandatory for Saudi children who are 18-month-old followed by a second one at the age of six. According to Waleed Al Deaigy, director of communications at Security Forces Hospital, the Kingdom would be the first country in the world to have such a mandatory check-up.

In a statement, Dr Adnan B. Mofti, director-general, Security Forces Hospital, said it was a significant development given the fact that 98 per cent of Saudi families neglect their children’s dental hygiene leading to cavities.

According to a survey conducted by the North West Armed Forces Hospital the incidence of dental cavities was found to be widespread in Tabuk. The survey results indicated that while demands for orthodontic treatment seemed to be exaggerated, the needs for other dental treatment were underestimated. The results implied that expensive and specialised dental services were highly promoted in a community that lacked appropriate access to primary dental care.

Proper guidelines

The results dictate the need for development and implementation of proper guidelines for referral for orthodontic treatment. It also underlines the need to prioritise highly needed primary dental care. Mofti said that the health sector in the Kingdom had witnessed great developments which are reflected in the standard of health of citizens, their average life expectancy as well as the standard of living.

He added that a primary preventive dental check-up for children who are 18-month-old is a landmark decision as it is the first-of-its-kind in the world. "We hope that through this we will be able to gain knowledge of how to protect our teeth against cavities and to promote hygienic practices for maintaining oral health," he added.

Preventive dentistry

The link between primary dental care and the issuance of vaccination certificates is expected to give boost to preventive dentistry, similar to the mandatory requirement of health insurance prior to the issuance of iqamas in the case of expatriates.

The mandatory check-up was discussed at an international conference entitled 'Contemporary Preventive Dentistry’‚ that Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, assistant minister of interior for security affairs, inaugurated in Riyadh. The conference was organised by the Security Forces Hospital in collaboration with the Saudi Dental Society. Mofti praised the support and encouragement of Prince Mohammed and said that his help would go a long way to boost employee morale and performance.

Dr Ibrahim Al Asem, director, Dental Department, Security Forces Hospital, said the opening of the conference by Prince Mohammed reflected the event’s importance.

source:www.khaleejtimes.com