Hong Kong to offer free dental check-ups to preschoolers from September

Starting September 1, Hong Kong preschoolers will receive complimentary dental check-ups as part of the Outreach Oral Health Programme for Preschool Children. Over 70% of the city's kindergartens have already committed to the initiative, which will be carried out by dental teams from 23 participating service providers. These teams will visit each kindergarten once per academic year to provide free oral screenings and risk assessments for children aged 32 months or older.

Dr. Kitty Hse Mei-yin, the consultant in charge of the dental service at the Department of Health, explained that this age range is crucial for protecting milk teeth, as children tend to eat frequently during this period. Conducting examinations in the familiar school environment helps ease children's anxieties, as they view it as a routine school activity.

The dental teams will also apply sodium fluoride varnish to healthy teeth to strengthen them and prevent cavities, and silver diamine fluoride to control tooth decay in children who already have it. Parents will receive screening reports, individualized dental care advice for children with decayed teeth, and referrals for eligible students in need.

The program aims to reinforce dental care and oral hygiene habits in young children, as tooth decay remains a significant issue among five-year-olds in Hong Kong. In a 2021 Oral Health Survey, 41.6% of five-year-olds experienced tooth decay, with an average of 1.8 affected teeth per child. Only about a quarter of parents had taken their five-year-olds to see a dentist, with many visits occurring after dental problems had already developed.

The dental school of the University of Hong Kong, with funding support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, has previously organized an oral health project and offered free check-up services to the city's kindergartens since the 2019-20 school year.