The Development of School Oral Health Programs in Qatar

Najat Alyafei

doi:10.15342/ijms.2021.308

Abstract

Background: The existence of a single school oral health program specifically targeting only 6 and 9 years old, for over 25 years was inadequate to address the oral health problems among the steadily increasing proportion of school children in Qatar. Paucity of remodeling the program to match the growing needs of children in Qatar had resulted in an increased prevalence of dental caries among schoolchildren.Aims: This paper's primary goal is to present the history of the school oral health program in the State of Qatar. Another overarching goal of this article is to present the development and implementation of a new Asnani (My Teeth) school-based program, which was designed to reach Kindergarten and public primary schools, to reduce the high prevalence of dental caries among school children, and a proposal for National School Oral Health Program plan, that will bring together public and private schools under one umbrella.Recommendation: With the increasing number of KGs and primary school children experiencing dental caries, a new, integrated, and comprehensive school oral health program should be adopted. The program should assist in reducing dental caries rates among school children in Qatar. Since the treatment of oral diseases is costly, Qatar should focus on oral health promotion and preventive measures that will reduce the need for curative procedures and minimize the financial expenses on dental treatment. In addition, it is necessary to have a department for the National School Oral Health Program to continually monitor public and private schools under one umbrella to reach the ultimate goal of reducing dental caries among school children.

Highlights

Oral health is a fundamental part of general health and well-being and significantly contributes to the development of a healthy child
The new Asnani School Oral Health Program (SOHP) seeks to increase community awareness concerning the importance of oral health prevention and improve access to dental service [11]
The program seeks to integrate with the existing Asnani SOHP initiated in Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), which is currently being delivered to all public-school children and extend the program to private schools in a joint venture partnership between Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), MOPH, PHCC, and private dental sector

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Oral health is a fundamental part of general health and well-being and significantly contributes to the development of a healthy child. The new Asnani SOHP seeks to increase community awareness concerning the importance of oral health prevention and improve access to dental service [11] It integrates educational and health care institutions to ensure that it delivers high standard and effective preventative dental service, where oral health prevention, treatment, and education minimize the oral disease burden among school children [11]. The pilot program used three MDUs manned by three school oral health dentists and three dental assistants Both the KGs and primary public-school students received oral health presentation, oral hygiene instructions, leaflets, full mouth screening, and preventive dental treatment that include topical fluoride & fissure sealants. The program seeks to integrate with the existing Asnani SOHP initiated in PHCC, which is currently being delivered to all public-school children and extend the program to private schools in a joint venture partnership between HMC, MOPH, PHCC, and private dental sector (see figure 2)

OBJECTIVES

Examination time per child

Findings

Program activities