RIYADH, 17 June 2007 — It will soon be mandatory for Saudi children to have a dental checkup when they are 18 months old followed by a second at the age of six. This will be a topic for discussion at an international conference entitled “Contemporary Preventive Dentistry” that Prince Muhammad ibn Naif, assistant minister of interior for security affairs, will open in Riyadh tomorrow.
The conference is organized by the Security Forces Hospital in collaboration with the Saudi Dental Society, according to Waleed Al-Deaigy, director of communications at Security Forces Hospital, who told Arab News that the Kingdom would be the first country in the world to mandate such a check-up.
The link between primary dental care and the issuance of vaccination certificates is expected to give a boost to preventive dentistry, similar to the mandatory requirement of health insurance prior to the issuance of iqamas in the case of expatriates.
In a statement, Dr. Adnan B. Mofti, director general, Security Forces Hospital, said it was a significant development given the fact that 98 percent of Saudi families neglect their children’s dental hygiene leading to cavities.
He lauded the support and encouragement of Prince Muhammad and said that his help would go a long way to boost employee morale and performance and so create a healthy working environment for the staff.
The incidence of dental cavities was found to be widespread in Tabuk, according to a survey conducted by the North West Armed Forces Hospital there. The survey results indicated that while demands for orthodontic treatment seemed to be exaggerated, the needs for other dental treatment were underestimated.
The results implied that expensive and specialized dental services were highly promoted in a community that lacked appropriate access to primary dental care. The results dictate the need for development and implementation of proper guidelines for referral for orthodontic treatment. It also underlines the need to prioritize highly needed primary dental care.
The health sector in the Kingdom, Mofti said, had witnessed great developments which are reflected in the standard of health of citizens, their average life expectancy as well as the standard of living.
He pointed out that a primary preventive dental check-up for children who are 18 months old is a landmark event as it is the first of its kind in the world. “We hope that through this we will be able to gain knowledge of how to protect our teeth against cavities and to promote hygienic practices for maintaining oral health.”
Dr. Ibrahim Al-Asem, director, Dental Department, Security Forces Hospital, said the opening of the conference by Prince Muhammad reflected the event’s importance. He added that the conference would feature distinguished local and international speakers along with decision-makers in the health care sector.
