Preschool Oral Health Promotion in Moreland

by Caroline van Gemert for Merri Community Health Services
Commenced: 01-01-2005 Status: Completed
Type: Health Promotion/Community Development
Priority/s: Oral Health

Details

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1. Project TitlePreschool Oral Health Promotion in Moreland
2. AuthorCaroline van Gemert for Merri Community Health Services
3. ThemeOral health promotion
4. Project TypeHealth Promotion/Community Development
5. LocalityAustralia (Nation-wide)
6. StatusCompleted
7. Commencement Date01-01-2005
8. Expected Completion Date31-12-2005
9. Describe the issue/s under consideration
Oral disease has significant personal burden due to the associated pain and discomfort. This may result in difficulty eating and poor diet, and subsequently can affect appearance, self esteem and quality of life . Oral disease is integral to general health and wellbeing, and associations between oral disease and systemic health has been established in recent years (DHS; 2000 ). The Auditor General of Victoria (2000) states that ?oral diseases are estimated to be among the most prevalent diseases in the community, with dental caries (decayed teeth), edentulism (loss of all teeth) and advanced periodontal (gum) disease being the 1st, 3rd and 5th most prevalent health conditions in Australians, respectively? . Indeed, oral disease is the most chronic disease of early childhood, with 42% of four year olds experiencing dental caries . Oral health is largely influenced by the social determinants of health. People from rural, CALD or low socio-economic status backgrounds experience are more likely to experience dental disease. Analysis of dental screening data kept by the Moreland Preschool Dental Program from 2000-2004 supports this pattern, with children from CALD (including ATSI) and low income backgrounds having poorer oral health status. In Summary, what is the Health Issue(s) which your needs assessment process had led you to believe needs to be addressed? The oral health of children aged 0 5 years in Moreland is poor and the traditional screening and health education model has proven to be ineffective in improving oral health. An oral health program should be based on health promotion principles so that those children at risk can be effectively targeted.