DESCRIPTION:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why is oral health important?

Oral Health is fundamental to overall health, well-being and quality of life. A healthy mouth enables people to eat, speak and socialize without pain, discomfort or embarrassment.

Pain from untreated dental diseases can lead to eating, sleeping, speaking, and learning problems in children and adolescents, which affect child’s social interactions, school achievement, general health, and quality of life. Rampant dental caries in children adversely affect the overall nutrition necessary for the growth of the body specifically body weight and height. That begins with the first bite and chewing the food efficiently.

What are the most common oral health illnesses of the Filipinos?

Dental Caries (tooth decay) and Periodontal Diseases (gum diseases) are the two most common oral health diseases affecting the Filipinos. 87.4 % Filipinos are suffering from dental caries while 48.3 % has gum disease (based on the 2011 National Monitoring and Evaluation Dental Survey).

How do we prevent these two dental diseases from occurring?

There are many ways these two most common dental diseases can be prevented. 

Dental caries can be prevented through…

• regular visits to the dentist for early diagnosis and preventive care;
• professionally applied fluorides & sealants;
• well balanced diet;
• minimize eating sugary foods and
• good plaque control through regular toothbrushing and flossing.

Gum diseases can be prevented through…

• regular visits to the dentist for early detection and treatment;
• regular and proper toothbrushing and
• healthy lifestyle such as avoidance of tobacco smoking, drugs & excessive alcohol-intake

How can one avail of the services?

• The services of the DOH and the LGUs can be availed at the Rural Health Units (RHUs), urban health centers, districts and provincial/city hospitals.
• For Pregnant women, you must visit the dentist during your pre-natal check-ups.
• DepEd Services can be availed in the school health clinics during school health days.

ORAL HEALTH SERVICES

1.   0-11 months (infants)

• 0-8 months - Oral Examination, Instruction on infant’s oral health care, Advice on exclusive breastfeeding
• 9-11 months - same as above and topical fluoride application

2.   1-4 years old (11-59 months old children)

• Oral examination
• Topical Fluoride Application
• Supervised Tooth Brushing
• Oral Health Education
• Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART)
• Oral prophylaxis/scaling

3.   5-9 years old (school-aged children)

• Oral examination
• Supervised Toothbrushing
• Oral Health Education
• Pits and Fissure Sealant
• Temporary filling
• Permanent filling

4.   10-19 years old (adolescents)

• Oral examination
• Education and counselling on good oral hygiene, diet and adverse effects of tobacco/smoking and alcohol and sweetened beverages & food
• Pit and fissure sealant application
• Temporary filling
• Permanent filling
• Oral prophylaxis/scaling
• Oral Urgent Treatment (OUT)

5.   20-59 years old (adults)

• Oral Examination
• Education and counseling on good oral hygiene, diet and adverse effects of tobacco/smoking and alcohol and sweetened beverages & food
• Gum Treatment
• Oral prophylaxis/scaling
• Permanent filling
• Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART)

6.   60 years old and above (senior citizens)

• Oral Examination
• Education and counselling on good oral hygiene, diet and adverse effects of tobacco/smoking and alcohol and sweetened beverages & food
• Oral Urgent Treatment (OUT): relief of pain, extraction of unsavable teeth and referral of complicated cases to higher level

7.   Pregnant women

• Oral examination
• Education and counselling on good oral hygiene, diet and adverse effects of tobacco/smoking and alcohol and sweetened beverages & food
• Oral prophylaxis/scaling
• Gum treatment
• Temporary filling
• Permanent filling