ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM

By: Charmaine Kelly O. Posadas

What is oral health?

Oral Health is fundamental to overall health, well being

and quality of life. A healthy mouth enables people to eat, speak and socialize

without pain, discomfort or embarrassment.

Why is oral health

important?

Pain from untreated dental diseases can lead to eating, sleeping,

speaking, and learning problems in children and adolescents, which affect child’s social interactions,

school achievement, general health, and quality of life.

Rampant dental caries in children adversely affect the overall nutrition necessary for the

growth of the body specifically body weight and height. That begins with the first bite and chewing the food efficiently.

What are the most common

oral health illness of the Filipinos?

Dental Caries (tooth decay) and Periodontal Diseases (gum diseases) are the two most common oral health diseases affecting the Filipinos. 92% Filipinos are suffering from

dental caries while 78 % has gum disease.

How do we prevent these

two dental diseases from

occurring?

Dental caries can be prevented through:regular visits to the

Dentist for early diagnosis and preventive care

eating well balanced diet and minimize eating sugary foods

use of fluorides and sealants and good plaque control through regular toothbrushing and flossing.

Gum diseases can be prevented through:regular visits to

the dentist for early detection and treatment,

regular and proper toothbrushing

healthy lifestyle such as avoidance of tobacco smoking, drugs and alcohol

What are the oral health programs of the

government regarding the promotion of oral health and prevention of these

two oral problems?

The Department of Health, Department of Education, DSWD, DILG, LGUs and Non-government

organizations such as the Philippine Dental Association, Academe and

other civic groups are collaborating and linking each other for the oral health needs and concerns of the

Filipinos

The DOH together with the LGUs is implementing the Orally Fit Child

program for under-six Filipinos which includes development of positive

behavior such as promoting toothbrushing and healthy diet and relief

of pain and discomfort due to dental caries though filling of cavities,

extraction of unsavable tooth and treatment of post-operative infections.

For the young people (adolescent and youth), services includes counseling

on the risks of tobacco smoking, alcohol and drugs to oral health. For

pregnant women and the elderly, services includes gum treatment, restoration of decayed tooth and

extraction of unsavable tooth.

DepEd is prioritizing school aged children with preventive and promotive services ranging from the use of fluorides and

sealants, atraumatic restorative treatment to restore cavities, toothbrushing and

incorporating good oral health behaviors in the education curriculum.

The NGOs accepts referrals from government facilities and caters other

adults.

How can one avail of

the services?

The services of the DOH and the LGUs can be availed at the Health Centers

and Government Hospitals. Oral examination and other health education and information and toothbrushing activities can be availed during Garantisadong

Pambata, Children’s Months and other health activities in your area.

For pregnant women, you must visit the dental clinic during your pre-

natal check-ups.DepEd services can be availed in the

school health clinics and during school health days celebrations such

as children’s month and Dental Health Months.

Is the services

mentioned all available

and free?

These services provided by the government should be free.

However, the government especially the local government units do not

have the budget for all these services so only part of the services

is being provided. Some health facilities require the patient to shell

out small amount to buy some of the dental supplies and medicines for the

treatment.These is also the reason why

government services is prioritizing the poor, marginalized and risks

Filipinos.

With limited budget for oral health, how can the government

intensify its health promotion

activities to reduce illness prevalence?

The DOH is linking with and building on existing health promotion

approaches to promote oral health such as:

Integrating ORALLY FIT CHILD concepts, messages and indicators in

the maternal and child health and nutrition and healthy lifestyle

programs and activities because :

If the proportion of breastfeeding mothers increases to 80% there would be a 3% increase in the proportion of five year

olds with no tooth decay experience, and a reduction in mean for this age group

by 2%Common risk factor approaches such as

avoidance of tobacco smoking, alcohol and drugs to prevent periodontal disease

which is also the risk factors of other non-communicable diseases such as

CVD, diabetes, cancer and etc.

The delivery of Basic Oral Care became the responsibility of the

local government under the Local Government Code of 1991.

GOAL:Reduce the prevalence rate of

dental carries and periodontal diseases from 92% in 1998 to 85% and from 78% in 1998 to 60% by the end of 2010 among general population.

OBJECTIVES:To increase the proportion of

Orally Fit Children under 6 years old to 80% by 2010.

To control oral health risks among the young people.

To improve the oral health conditions of pregnant women by 20% and older persons by 10% every year until 2010.

BASIC PACKAGE OF ORAL HEALTH CARE

The following are the Basic package of essential oral services

or care for every life cycle to provide in all health facilities including schools or at home.

MOTHER(pregnant)Oral examinationOral propylaxisPermanent FillingsGum TreatmentHealth Education

Neonatal and infants under 1 year old

Dental check up as soon as the first tooth erupts.

Health instruction on infant oral health care and advice on exclusive breastfeeding.

Children 12-71 months oldDental check-up as soon as the

first tooth appears and every 6 months thereafter.

Supervised tooth brushing drillsORAL URGENT TREATMENT

Removal of unsavable teethReferral of complicated casesTreatment of post extraction

complicationsApplication of Atraumatic Restorative

Treatment

School Children (6-12 years old)Oral ExaminationsSupervised tooth brushing drillsTopical Flouride TherapyPits and Fissure Sealant

ApplicationOral ProphylaxisPermanent Fillings

Adolescent and Youth Oral ExaminationHealth Promotion and

Education,Adverse effect of consumption of sweets and sugary beverages, tobacco and alcohol.

Other Adults (25-59 years old)Oral ExaminationsEmergency dental TreatmentHealth instruction and adviceReferrals

Older PersonsOral ExaminationsExtraction for unsavable toothGum TreatmentRelief of PainHealth instruction and advice

Classifications of Oral Interventions1. Preventive2. Curative3. Promotive Services

Preventive ServicesOral Examinations- careful checking of oral

cavity by duly trained dentist.Oral hygiene- is the basic personal measure

to prevent and control tooth decay and gum disease.

Pit and Fissure sealant program- a non invasive preventive and control measure against tooth decay.

Flouride Utilization Program- a non invasive preventive and control measure through multiple use of flourides in areas where flouride content s low.

Curative or Treatment ServicesPermanent Filling- restoration of

savable teeth with amalgam composite or glass filling materials.

Gum Treatment- the deep scaling and root planning of affected tooth or teeth for pregnant mothers and older persons with periodontal disease.

Atraumatic restorative Treatment- permanently filling for priority target groups by manually cleaning dental cavity using hand instrument.

Temporary Filling-is the treatment of deep seated tooth decay with zinc oxide and eugenol

Extraction- removal of unsavable teeth

Treatment of post extraction complication such as dry sockets and bleeding

Drainage of Localized oral abscesses-incision and drainage

Promotive ServicesIncludes health education

activities directed to the priority groups thru individual or group approach using accepted tool and media.

THANK YOU!