Review Article
Year : 2021 | Volume : 9 | Issue : 1 | Page : 1 - 5
Oral Health Care Programs for Children: A Literature Review
Deema Abdul Khader, Faizal C. Peedikayil
Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Kannur Dental College, Anjarakandy, Kerala, India
Address for correspondence:
Dr. Deema Abdul Khader,
Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Kannur Dental College, Anjarakandy, Kerala, India.
E‐mail: dr.deemamak@gmail.com
Abstract
Oral diseases are one of the most common diseases found in humans. They can produce serious problems such as pain and discomfort leading to disability, impairment and handicap. Researchers suggest that poor oral health may be associated with medical conditions such as diabetes, pneumonia, and stroke. Some medical conditions do have oral manifestations as well. Despite their high social and economic burdens, oral diseases receive little attention in many countries and remain neglected. Children are especially at higher risk for being in the group of neglect in case of treatment of oral diseases are considered. To overcome this situation in our country, various oral health care programs have been implemented by both central as well as state government for the children. Various community‐level programs, Anganwadi programs and school‐level programs were developed like mid‐day meal scheme, fluoride programs, tooth brushing programs, nutrition programs, health‐promoting schools, tobacco‐free schools, and oral health care program for special children like special smiles project. Seal‐it, Arogya Jagratha and Ardram mission are some of the programs developed by state governments through primary health centers and through accredited social health activist (ASHA) workers. Still disparities are present in the quality of pediatric dental care. This review article highlights various oral health care programs for children in India.
Keywords: Oral health care program, school dental health program, tobacco‐free schools
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
How to cite this article:
Khader DA, Peedikayil FC. Oral health care programs for children: A literature review. Int J Community Dent 2021;9:1-5.
