(By Dr. Joseph D. Lim and Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI)
INNOVATIVE, low-cost, and effective.
Those describe a community-based intervention program to promote oral health among preschool children in Kalpetta, India. It is among the winners of the World Dental Development Fund initiative of the World Dental Federation, or FDI (French for Fédération Dentaire Internationale).
The FDI recognizes efforts from India, Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania to improve oral health through the World Dental Development Fund and awards them US$10,000 each for the development of these projects.
Established in 1999, the World Dental Development Fund supports innovative oral health initiatives in communities all over the world. It supports projects with clear objectives to promote and improve oral health and prevent oral diseases in areas with limited income for oral health needs.
The project in Kalpetta, India, uses common risk factors as an approach for improving early childhood oral health and correcting malnutrition in preschool children. The aim is to prevent early childhood caries.
This is done by promoting healthy nutritional practices among mothers of young children to improve the quality of life and educational potential of children from birth through their adult years.
The program includes education on nutrition and oral hygiene for community health workers, teachers, parents and children; toothbrushes and toothpaste for all two to three times per year; and dental examinations with referral to dental treatment as needed.
The preliminary results of the intervention have been very promising and there is considerable scope to develop a model for low-cost community-based oral preventive programs to reduce early childhood caries, according to the FDI.
Also in India, the World Dental Development Fund winner is the project of the Indian Dental Association (IDA) to reduce the dietary sugar intake of the Indian population by developing a critical mass of advocates for sugar control in India.
It was developed after the FDI conducted the Vision 2030 capacity building workshops jointly with IDA in Mumbai, which led to the development of the Mumbai Declaration on Sugary Drinks and Healthy Food.
The secondary goal of the project is to facilitate sugar advocacy in dental colleges in underserved areas of Maharashtra state in India.
Another winner, this time in Africa, is the Kenya Dental Association (KDA) which is running a pilot program in Kiambu, one of the 47 counties in the country.
The KDA aims to train community health volunteers to improve oral health knowledge among Community Health Volunteers, enhance oral health promotion, and prevention and early detection of oral disease among communities.
Addressing such gaps within the community is vital to achieving optimal oral health, the FDI says.
In Nigeria, oral health interventions among nursing mothers help prevent severe early childhood caries in children.
The winning project of the Nigerian Dental Association is focused on oral health interventions and early childhood caries. It aims to determine the effect of oral health interventions on the incidence of early childhood caries in Nigerian children aged 2 years, as well as assess its occurrence in children after oral health intervention.
Another goal of the study is to evaluate the association between the age of mothers, sex of child, socio-economic status, and presence of caries in mothers and occurrence of early childhood caries.
These innovative initiatives deserve replication in other countries. Or similar projects along the same line. Perhaps in the Philippines as well.
***
Dr. Joseph D. Lim, Ed. D., is the former Associate Dean of the College of Dentistry, University of the East; former Dean, College of Dentistry, National University; Past President and Honorary Fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy; Honorary Fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists; Honorary Life Member of the Thai Association of Dental Implantology; and Founding Chairman of the Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515.
***
Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI, graduated Doctor of Dental Medicine, University of the Philippines, College of Dentistry, Manila, 2011; Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management, De la Salle University, Manila, 2002; and Master of Science (MSc.) in Oral Implantology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany, 2019. He is an Associate Professor; Fellow, International Congress of Oral Implantologists; Member, American Academy of Implant Dentistry and Fellow, Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail limdentalcenter@gmail.com/PN
