Bandar Seri Begawan - The Ministry of Health (MoH) aims to preserve Bruneians' pearly whites as it targets for its population to retain a minimum of 20 functional teeth from one premolar to another as proposed by the World Health Organisation.

Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health Dato Paduka Hj Abd Salem Abd Momin said improving the accessibility to early diagnosis and treatment is an integral part of the Ministry of Health's strategic goals to preserve the population's teeth.

Studies carried out in 1999 showed that Brunei has one of the highest rates of decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth in the world.

Brunei hopes to reduce the level of dental cavities among the population by 50 per cent in five years through monitoring and regulating of toothpastes sold here in addition to introducing more dental clinics in community health centres around the country.

"Apart from preserving function, preserving these teeth will also help to preserve aesthetics and improve the emotional well-being of the individual," he said during the launching of the Third Federation Dentaire International and Brunei's Ministry of Health international Dental Convention and Dental Trade Exhibition 2009 at The Empire Hotel and Country Club.

Dato Hj Salem said this could be achieved through preventive and early interventional dentistry. "While early diagnosis and treatment can help preserve oral health and prevent oral cancers, dental carries and periodontal diseases, early intervention can help reduce the extent of tooth loss in patients," he said.

"The cost of rehabilitating patients with missing teeth through the provision of removable dentures, fixed bridgework and implants will also be alleviated," he added. The permanent secretary said to achieve such goals, the Dental Services Department, apart from increasing the number of primary oral care dental facilities, is also considering increasing the out-patient hours in primary dental care services.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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