AMMAN - Approximately 65 per cent of schoolchildren suffer from dental caries, according to a new study released on Monday.
The study, conducted by the Jordan Dental Association (JDA), indicated that 18 per cent of schoolchildren brush their teeth effectively and only 2 per cent use dental floss.
The study was conducted on a sample of 1,004 children from schools across the country.
According to related studies, 25 per cent of parents advise their children to brush their teeth and supervise the procedure, 60 per cent advise their children but do not monitor them, while 15 per cent neither advise their children nor care for their dental health.
The studies also indicated that 70 per cent of dentists explain procedures to their patients before treatment, while 30 per cent only concentrate on the treatment.
The results of the studies were presented at a ceremony yesterday, where the JDA announced the launch of a six-year project to promote preventive dental care in the Kingdom schools.
Funded by the World Dental Federation (WDF), the initiative seeks to educate schoolchildren on dental and oral health, JDA President Barakat Jaabari said.
He noted that a pilot project was implemented in selected schools across the Kingdom for one year and the WDF decided to extend it.
Last year, out of 278,758 schoolchildren tested for dental problems, 185,780 were diagnosed with different dental health-related diseases, Minister of Education Ibrahim Badran said in his address at the event.
He called on concerned parties to develop awareness messages on dental health to be e-mailed to students and teachers.
Badran also announced that the education ministry, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, is working to establish a joint council to follow up on all health-related issues among schoolchildren.
The council will have members representing both ministries, as well as universities and local communities, he noted.
In addition, Badran revealed that the ministry, in cooperation with the World Health Organisation, will establish a database to gauge the prevalence of diseases in schools and the areas with the highest prevalence.
Currently, there are 4,000 public schools and 1,500 private schools across the Kingdom accommodating 1,200,000 students, according to the minister.
By Khetam Malkawi
© Jordan Times 2010
