14
Dentistry
Unity is key to oral health
O
ral diseases remain a major public health headache for South Africa, with poor nutrition, lack of knowledge and socio-economic conditions cited as some of the root causes. The Department of Oral Hygiene at the University of the Western Cape is addressing this situation by employing interdisciplinary and inter-professional approaches to provide preventative and educational treatment at ground level. Every week the Department, located at the Faculty of Dentistry, hosts outreach programmes at the primary health institution in the Mitchell’s Plain Oral Health Centre for parents, children and other health practitioners. “What we are trying to do is to speak in
one voice about the importance of oral health and to say oral health is general health,” explains Rugshana Cader, lecturer in oral hygiene and coordinator of the programme. The programme forms part of community learning for third-year dentistry students to equip them with the skills to work with the communities in primary health care. Under the guidance of lecturers, students rovi e ental treat ent in l in ori e treat ent fillin an ealant ile educating clients about the importance of oral hygiene. “There is a lack of resources in our communities and access to healthcare is a challenge,” Cader says. “And we found that our communities don’t always know how
to care for their teeth. They don’t know that if a child sleeps with a bottle it can lead to teeth decay, for instance. We want to educate them instead of just providing treatment.” Cader notes that they see about 40 children weekly and the initiative is making a positive impact. “As bleak as oral hygiene conditions are in South Africa, there is hope. People are coming in big numbers to our programmes and we are making headway.” She appealed to private and public health practitioners, as well as the business world and the communities to join forces to address oral health. “There is a need to change the behaviour and mindsets of all stakeholders towards oral health. Working to et er ill a e a i nifi ant i eren e
The Faculty of Dentistry hosts outreach programmes to promote oral health in poor communities.
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