The Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH WV CHD) is calling on Ilonggos to make oral health a daily routine and an essential part of their overall well-being.
“Poor oral health is not just about cavities or bad breath. It is linked to serious health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and poor nutrition. Yet, it is often neglected,” DOH WV CHD Director Dr. Annabelle Yumang said in a statement read by Oral Health and Men’s Health Program Coordinator, Dr. Ramon Mateo Grecia Jr., in a press conference here Friday.
Yumang said they are committed to advancing oral health through its #Ngiting 7020, aiming that by the age of 70, every Filipino retains at least 20 of their natural, healthy, and functional teeth.
“This initiative is to further guide our healthcare providers, local government units, schools, families, and every Filipino to prioritize oral health as an essential part of overall well-being,” she said.
She added that oral health has been integrated into the universal healthcare program and covered under the Benefit for Preventive Oral Health Services in Primary Care based on Circular 2024-0034 of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
“This will address out-of-pocket expenses and make oral health services more accessible, particularly to underserved communities and vulnerable populations, a significant step towards achieving Universal Health Care,” Yumang said.
The DOH said Filipinos could avail of the Routine Preventive Oral Care from accredited PhilHealth Yaman ng Kalusugan providers, which includes twice-a-year oral screening, oral prophylaxis or cleaning, fluoride varnish application, and pit and fissure sealant for children or root surface protection for adults, for a maximum of two teeth per year, to maintain good oral health.
Yumang encouraged dental professionals and dental facilities and clinics, both government and private, to be an accredited provider of the PhilHealth program.
They are also working closely with public health dentists, schools, and communities to provide preventive services, oral health education, early screening, and access to affordable oral healthcare.
Meanwhile, Grecia said dental caries or tooth decay and gum diseases remain the top two major concerns when it comes to oral health.
One challenge of the oral health program is the limited number of public dental practitioners.
“There are provinces with no dental program coordinator and municipalities without dentists,” he noted.
He called on local government units to hire at least two dentists if they have a population of 50,000.
The current target is one dentist for every 50,000 population, but he said they are requesting the DOH to reduce it to one dentist for every 20,000.
Dr. Revielynne Joy Dela Cruz, Oral Health Program Coordinator in Iloilo City, said oral health care is accessible in the city, but the problem is with their health-seeking behavior.
People only see them when they already have problems with their teeth, she said.
Iloilo City has 17 dentists available in nine rural health districts and barangay health stations. (PNA)