Dental outreach at kindergartens begins on Sep 1

Starting September 1, children participating in kindergarten will have access to complimentary oral check-ups on-site, according to the Department of Health. The Outreach Oral Health Programme will see 23 designated providers visit schools to deliver dental and preventive services to children aged three to six on a yearly basis.

Their goal is to instill early childhood dental care habits by involving parents, who will receive a report detailing their child's dental health and referrals for those requiring further assistance. In cases of tooth decay, the reports will include personalized care guidance. Furthermore, the outreach teams will conduct complimentary seminars on dental health for educators to enhance children's awareness of oral care.

Currently, 680 schools have registered for the initiative, representing 71.7% of the total 949 kindergartens in the city. Dr. Alex Chau, a senior dental officer from the department, explained that some schools declined to participate due to existing arrangements for similar services, or because the school was relocating or closing, causing them to be occupied with other matters.

However, the providers will persist in reaching out to these schools, encouraging their participation. The Outreach Oral Health Programme will complement the existing preventive dental services, which are either free or subsidized by the department, ensuring coverage for all age groups. This initiative follows the introduction of the Primary Dental Co-care Pilot Scheme for Adolescents in March of the previous year.

Dr. Kitty Hse, a consultant overseeing dental services, reported that as of August 12, approximately 10,000 teenagers had undergone dental checkups under the scheme.