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New PC Dental Centre to augment delivery of related health care
As part of the ongoing observance of Oral Health Month, the Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with the Dental School, President’s College and Region Four will be launching the PC Dental Centre. The event set for tomorrow, [Friday, November 30, 2018] will mark the culmination of Oral Health month, but will cater to the sustained oral health care of students and teachers of the secondary school as well as persons within proximity.
But the move to introduce such a facility at the school was not by chance as according to Dentex attached to the Ministry of Public Health, Ms. Holly Adridge Prince, “we are trying to focus a lot on having the children being given better care as often as possible.”
According to the Dentex, among the crucial information disseminated to students is the need for them to preserve their teeth instead of having extraction done. Moreover, the intent, Adridge Prince said, is to help persons learn from an early age how to care for their teeth. “Many people don’t understand that you don’t have to take out a tooth because of a toothache,” said the Dentex.
Ms. Holly Adridge Prince who will manage the PC Dental Centre.
Moreover, the main emphasis throughout the month was focused on the upholding the theme for Oral Health month – ‘Improving Oral Health through preventative and restorative measures.’
The key tactics that can be employed to preserve one’s teeth are brushing at least twice daily and visits to the dentist twice yearly or as prescribed by the dentist, Adridge Prince said.
“If you have a case where the teeth are infected or if you have cavities, instead of extracting, you can visit the dentists so you can have restorative methods done such as filling,” she related.
Among the particular issues that are seen among children, who have been the main target, during the course of the month, are tooth decay and gum infection such as gingivitis and juvenile periodontitis.
“The most common gum disease you can find in teenagers is juvenile periodontitis,” said Adridge Prince as she revealed that this condition is one where the gum is inflamed and if left untreated can develop into other complications even the loss of teeth.
The intent of targeting youths at the level of the school is strategic, since it is expected that they will be able to filter the information they learn to their families and the wider environment, Adridge Prince said.
To help raise awareness too, the month of Oral Health activities in Region Four included dental care outreaches at a number of schools across the East Coast of Demerara. However, the most outstanding activity, she noted, was a dental fair, which was held at the Ebenezer Church at Anns Grove, East Coast Demerara.
“That was a big fair and we saw about 104 patients…we did a number of extractions and cleaning, and we were able to educate people about the importance of oral health,” Adridge Prince. She is convinced that through education, more young people are beginning to adhere to proper dental health.
“There has been a great improvement where dental health is concerned,” said Adridge Prince who noted that persons are urged to visit the dentist in order to ensure that necessary measures can be implemented to help preserve or restore any issues with their teeth.
“It is only after visiting the dentist that you will know how often you should return for professional dental care…once you visit the dentist, you may not need to come back until the following year, but then you might have to return sooner, but it is up to the dentist to advise,” Adridge Prince said.
But through the PC Dental Centre, it is expected that persons will be able to have regular access to dental health care starting from as early as 08:00 hours [8am] each weekday.
“This is a new thing and we are inviting the members of the community to come in and access this free service,” Adridge Prince urged.
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