Dubai Health Authority announces survey in collaboration with WHO to access oral hygiene status of Dubai school children

As part of the survey, 5670 students, aged 5, 12 and 15 years across both public and private schools in Dubai will take part in this survey.

The survey includes screening programs and clinical examinations, which will be carried out by DHA dentists and hygienists according to World Health Organization criteria. Schools across all geographical areas of Dubai will be part of this program.

HE Essa Al Maidoor, Director-General of the DHA, said: "This research program will provide us with information about the current level of oral healthcare habits of school children in Dubai. It will also help us assess the level of dental knowledge and attitudes among children. Once we collate and study this information, we will base our oral healthcare policies and preventative programs in accordance with the results of the survey to ensure we effectively help improve oral health behaviours among school children. We believe that formulating preventative programs based on scientific-evidence and research will directly help in reducing the prevalence of dental health problems among children and adolescents in Dubai."

Dr Tariq Khoory, director of dental services, Primary Healthcare Sector at the DHA, said: "The survey has been undertaken as per WHO guidelines- the age group, sample size etc, is as per the recommendations of the WHO. This survey is of critical importance because oral health problems only get worse with age and therefore educating the youth and encouraging oral health hygiene early on is crucial. Often oral health problems are neglected but parents and caregivers need to understand that common oral diseases such as dental caries and periodontitis, tend to cause pain and discomfort subsequently leading to absenteeism and poor performance among pupils."

He added that the aim has to be to inculcate regular oral hygiene among school children and adolescents. "Several factors such as improved oral hygiene, a sensible approach to sugar consumption and school-based preventive programmes are essential to reduce the problem of caries among school children."

He added that the DHA began this program this week at Ahmed bin Rashid School in Al Muhaisnah and Anisa School in Al Quoz.

He also provided an update with regard to the number of people screened using the mobile dental bus.

Last year, at the UAE International Dental Conference & Arab Dental Exhibition and congress (ADEEC), His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and President of the Dubai Health Authority inaugurated two mobile dental units, which he donated to the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) with an aim to provide better accessibility to dental services.

The aim of providing the DHA with these two mobile dental units was to help the authority reach out to people in the remote areas of Dubai, people who are handicapped, the elderly population and school children.

Since last year, the authority has carried out mass screenings using the mobile buses. So far, 1800 people have been treated and screened using the mobile dental units through campaigns carried out in Lusaily, Hatta etc.

The DHA has 17 dental centres spread across the Emirate of Dubai. In 2012, the DHA dental centres received 140,000 patients, in 2011 the centres received 117,384 patients and in 2010, they received 107,271 patients respectively.