How did this come to our attention?
One of the most vital parts of the human body, the mouth, can help us maintain good general health. According to research, despite significant advancements in the general public’s oral health in a number of nations, issues still exist on a global scale. The majority of them come from disadvantaged communities in both developed and developing nations. The general public’s oral health, particularly in poorer countries where people are less aware of their overall oral health status, requires special attention through the Dental Health Program.
Around 70 Children and 163 adults benefited from this practical and educational dental health program. Out of the 70 Children, more than half have good oral hygiene and 35% needed dental treatment. Similarly, out of 163 adults, nearly half of them have good oral hygiene (51.8%) and the rest of them also need dental treatment.
It was evident that both privileged and underprivileged populations are prone to needing dental treatment. The findings of the clinical examination highlighted untreated caries and periodontal disease which may be attributed to illiteracy, poor awareness, and lack of oral health services despite being from varied professional backgrounds or vulnerable communities.
There is still a lack of appropriate oral hygiene practices and behaviour which reflects a lack of awareness. Therefore, to improve overall oral health we should be promoting oral health awareness and disease prevention. Also, improving the oral health care delivery system.
We started our first humanitarian agenda through the Dental Program at one of the orphanages.
Different free dental screenings were conducted by Aaviyanta Foundation in collaboration with UNR Dental clinic from 2020 to present. A total number of 9 programs were conducted in different parts of the city within Kathmandu valley. Covid 19 precaution protocols didn’t allow us to travel outside the valley this year. Five of them were orphanages, two at Manav Seva and one at an elderly home. The team was led by one dental surgeon, two dental hygienists and three volunteers.
The goal of the program is:
- To assess the dental health and treatment needs among the children, elderly and homeless people living in shelter homes of Kathmandu.
- To find out the prevalence of dental diseases within the community.
- To determine the best strategy for encouraging dental hygiene and oral health for the future generation.
Future Projection
- Conduct dental health programs twice a month and collect enough data to evaluate the general oral hygiene status.
- Collaborate with hospitals and clinics to conduct follow-up programs and maintain patient records.
- Partner with pharmaceutical companies who could sponsor dental kits including toothpaste, toothbrush, and mouthwash for the program.