184. One in five Azorean never been to the dentist

One in five Azorean over two years never went to the dentist or the Stomatologist despite the Azores are the only region of the country that offers the dental consultations at public health service. The data in the National Health Survey 2005-2006, and indicate that the proportion of the population of the autonomous regions from the two years that have ever used in life consultations in oral health is less than on the mainland. In the mainland, 86.3 percent has been assisted by stomatologists, dentists or other oral health professionals, while in Madeira this value drops to 81.8 and 78.7 for the Azores percent.

Faced with these numbers, the Azores Regional Coordinator of the Program for Promotion of Oral Health, Ricardo Cabral, devalued the lowest percentage recorded in the Azores, arguing that five years ago, the region "broke the tail deep. Ensured that the Azores are closer to the national average indicators in this area, with measures that have "gains in health" in recent years.

The dentist noted that the Azores is the only country that provides dental public, through a regional program with innovative measures at the country level. Each of the health centers of the Azores, with the exception of the island of Faial, already provide an average two million queries per year for oral health, said the agency Lusa.

With this program, there have been "considerable gains in health," said the expert, pointing out that the survey data released today match the start of the program.

In statements to Lusa, the expert acknowledged, however, that "there is still much to do" in this area in the region, but stressed that the Azores are now closer to national averages. He mentioned the example of innovative measures developed in the archipelago, as the Bulletin Single Oral Health, available to children of nine islands, which allows recording all the information and medical history of its bearer.

This newsletter, which can be obtained free at the health of the nine islands, is a further contribution to the oral health of the Azores, in the context of the current program. As you said, between 2000 and 2005 there was a change in oral health of the population, as evidenced, for example, the rate of tooth decay in children, from 4.5 to 2.1 during this period (international indicator). As the percentage of children caries-free at six years (mouths healthy), the region fell from 30.8 percent in 2000 to 37.3 percent in 2005, a positive development, but still far from the goals of the World Health.

Ricardo Cabral argued that oral health is more accessible to the entire population, with the entry of new professionals in islands that have no dentist.

RTP

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With this news is called to the attention of governentes: who today deny access to health tomorrow will have to pay taxes mandatory?