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Director of Oral and Dental Health Department of MUMS Office of Vice President for Health announced that dental services are provided by 64 dentists in 84 villages and towns with less than 20,000 inhabitants. Interviewed by Webda, Dr. Bahman Kalali Moghaddam said, “Since 2014, Oral and Dental Care Program has been implemented as part of the Family Physician Program (under the Health System Reform Plan) in rural areas and towns with less than 20,000 inhabitants, and dentistry services were expanded in order to improve oral and dental health in coverage areas. There are also mobile dental units for remote rural areas, and a total of 64 dentists serve in these centers.” “Our services are free of charge for the target group including children under 14 and pregnant women who are covered by rural or social insurance, and others pay government-subsidized fees,” he added. Referring to the fact that 1,300,000 people are covered by the plan, he acknowledged that they use most dental services (e.g. including tooth extraction, filling, and preventive measures); but these centers do not offer some services such as prosthodontics, root canal therapy and orthodontics. Dr. Kalali continued, “The plan has been greatly welcomed, and we have mostly served the target group. Most patients have so far asked to pull their teeth and fill deep cavities, but we try to convince them to choose filling instead of tooth extraction.” There is also examination and educational sessions for expectant mothers 3 times a year, and examination for the under 14 target group once a year. Those who need treatment will be referred to dedicated dentistry clinics of the plan or other public and private dentistry centers. Another service under the plan is distributing free fingertip toothbrushes for infants (under two years old) and instructing parents how to use them,” he added. Dr. Kalali said, “Since the beginning of the new school year, pupils of all 6 primary school grades wash their teeth with fluoride gel to prevent dental caries. If performed continuously until the age of 14, this will fortify the tooth structure and reduce tooth decay by 30 to 40 percent. But we are facing a problem here: parents' opposition due to the false news disseminated on cyberspace. Parents suspect that using this substance adversely effects their children's nervous system; whereas it actually has no systemic effects and does not enter blood and saliva.” He finally advised everybody to take care of their teeth, clean their teeth twice a day with a toothbrush and once a day with dental floss, visit their dentist every six months for periodic examinations, and avoid self-medication in order to prevent further problems. |