Health Department Launches Free Dental Outreach for Kindergarten Children
RTHK · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Department of Health will launch the Preschool Children's Oral Health Outreach Programme on September 1, providing free on-site oral examinations and preventive dental care for children aged 32 months or older at participating kindergartens across all 18 districts. Twenty-three designated service agencies will send dental teams to conduct examinations, apply fluoride treatments, and issue oral health reports to parents. The programme has secured participation from 680 kindergartens, covering nearly 72 percent of all kindergartens in Hong Kong.
Key Points
- The Department of Health's Preschool Children's Oral Health Outreach Programme launches on September 1, targeting children aged 32 months or above
- Twenty-three service agencies will dispatch dental teams to participating kindergartens across all 18 districts to deliver free oral examinations and preventive care
- Dental teams will perform risk assessments, issue personalized oral health reports to parents, and provide individual oral health care recommendations
- For cavity-free children, teams will apply sodium fluoride to strengthen teeth; for children with cavities, silver diamine fluoride will be used to control decay
- As of the reporting date, service agencies had contacted 890 out of 949 kindergartens, with 680 agreeing to participate, representing approximately 71.7 percent participation
- Teams will also deliver oral health lectures for kindergarten teachers and arrange referrals when necessary
- Services will commence in September, with outreach activities scheduled according to each kindergarten's chosen time slot
Why It Matters
The programme targets tooth decay prevention at an early age, aiming to foster healthy oral hygiene habits among Hong Kong's youngest residents. With nearly three-quarters of all kindergartens enrolled, the initiative has the potential to significantly improve pediatric oral health outcomes across the city .
The programme targets tooth decay prevention at an early age, aiming to foster healthy oral hygiene habits among Hong Kong's youngest residents. With nearly three-quarters of all kindergartens enrolled, the initiative has the potential to significantly improve pediatric oral health outcomes across the city .