SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1993
"ABOUT 60 PER CENT OF CHILDREN HAVE ESTABLISHED CARIES BY THE TIME THEY REACH PRIMARY 1.
**THOROUGH STUDY OF EXAMPLES WORLDWIDE HAS INDICATED THAT EDUCATION AMONG THE PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN WITH PARENT INVOLVEMENT PROPER STRATEGY TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM.
IS A
THE PROGRAMME ENTITLED "BRIGHTER SMILES FOR THE NEW GENERATION" IS DESIGNED ΤΟ FULFIL SUCH OBJECTIVES WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF NON-DENTAL PROFESSIONALS AS ORAL HEALTH EDUCATORS.
UNDER THE PROGRAMME, TALKS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN ALL THE 46 MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRES OF THE DEPARTMENT.
PARENTS WILL BE INDIVIDUALLY COUNSELLED BY NURSES ON DUTY. THEY WILL RECEIVE READING MATERIAL SHOWING HOW THEY CAN HELP THEIR CHILDREN FORM GOOD ORAL CARE HABITS AT A TENDER AGE.
"WHEN THE CHILDREN ARE IN KINDERGARTEN OR DAY OF THEM WILL RECEIVE FROM US A STORY BOOK ON ORAL SAID.
"THE PARENTS WILL ALSO BENEFIT FROM THE BOOK.
NURSERIES, EACH HEALTH, DR LEE
"TEACHERS WILL USE TEACHING KITS TO TEACH THE PUPILS CORRECT CONCEPTS ON DENTAL CARE."
T
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF DENTISTRY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, PROFESSOR STEPHEN H Y WEI, SAID DENTAL DECAY AMONG ADULTS HAD DECLINED BY MORE THAN 60 PER CENT AS A RESULT OF THE INTRODUCTION OF WATER FLUORIDATION IN HONG KONG IN 1961.
THE NUMBER OF DECAYED, MISSING AND FILLED TEETH IN AN AVERAGE ADULT IS NOW PROBABLY AMONG THE LOWEST IN THE WORLD, HE SAID.
"HOWEVER, WATER FLUORIDATION DOES NOT BENEFIT THE BABY TEETH IN PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN AS MUCH AS THE PERMANENT TEETH. MORE THAN HALF OF THE PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN IN HONG KONG ARE STILL AFFECTED BY DENTAL DECAY.
"IT IS THEREFORE MOST APPROPRIATE FOR THE GOVERNMENT то DEVELOP A STRATEGY WHEREBY PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN, PARENTS, KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS AND CHILD CARE WORKERS ARE EDUCATED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ORAL HEALTH AND THE PRINCIPLES OF PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY," PROFESSOR WEI SAID.
THE FUN-FILLED CARNIVAL BEGINS TODAY AND LASTS UNTIL TOMORROW (SUNDAY) AT THE QUEENSWAY EXHIBITION HALL IN ADMIRALTY, CENTRAL.
IT IS OPEN PROM 10.30 AM TO 6 PM. ADMISSION IS FREE.
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