Monday 9 February 2009

174) Dental caries affects 70% of children in the North Country

Dental caries affects 70% of children in the North country. Screenings organized by the Institute of Health of the High Ave (ISAVE) indicate that 70% of children north of the country have dental caries, said today the source of ISAVE agency Lusa. Of the more than three thousand children, between six and nine years, students from pre-school and 1st cycle of some public schools in northern Portugal analyzed, only 30% did not have problems of caries.
The study, started five years ago, the Department of Community Oral Health ISAVE, schools already visited the districts of Bragança, Porto, Viana do Castelo and Braga. In all the schools covered by the students of the Institute of Health of the High Ave, the addition of 'bad eating habits with poor oral hygiene habits, leaving marks.
"They are few children who do not have problems with cavities, the Lusa said Estela Castro, coordinator of the department of oral health in the College of Póvoa de Lanhoso. After school groups throughout the North (as Torre de Moncorvo, Vinhais, Miranda do Douro, Carvalho and Santa Maria da Feira), the technicians were in the group of schools Vermoim in Maia.
In partnership with the local authority, surveys were conducted to 197 children to learn specific details about their oral health and at the same time, promote education sessions attractive to health, to create habits for the prevention of oral health. With this screening, a database that has accurate information on withdrawing oral problems in children.
Also in Maia, the percentage of children with caries is 70%, similar to other northern counties.
Estela Castro for "the best way to ensure health, safety and welfare in the area of oral health is to invest in the training of highly qualified oral hygienists to achieve successful oral health measures implemented in our country. The protocols concluded with pools, town halls, health centers and health sub-regions, the technicians who perform the screening, follow the directions of the National Program of the Ministry of Health Oral Health.
"We want to teach the care your teeth, to eat better and live better," says Estela Castro. In most cases marked, each school informed the parents or responsible for education of children of the procedures they should take. The most serious cases were reported to their health centers.
"After treating, it is necessary to invest for such treatment not be needed again. The oral diseases are very expensive for people and the public purse. We must increase the education levels of population health and improve the rates of perception of the importance of oral health in general health, 'says the coordinator. The responsible course of Oral Hygiene ISAVE, Mário Rui Araújo, 'it is urgent investment in oral health in Portugal.
"We can only think of treating teeth. We must invest in creating a strong culture of oral health, a job that starts in schools and in kindergartens, said. In Maia, said, "the most urgent cases of children requiring oral treatment will be sent to the ISAVE in order to be sealed teeth at risk. In the future, "all children in need will be met under this program and the national program of oral health, highlights Rui Araújo.
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This very serious problem of oral health in Portugal, then in childhood, requires immediate action; enough of promises and more studies. The problem is so serious so it is necessary to alert the entire community and demand concrete answers on the ground by the authorities. Copy and publish this news, for the sake of children and young people across the country.
Gerofil

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