What are the latest dental problems statistics of the Philippines?
Name of Office: FHO, NCDPC
According to the 1998 National Monitoring and Epidemiological Dental Survey (NMEDS), about 92.4% of Filipinos have tooth decay (dental caries) and 78% have gum diseases (periodontal diseases). The dental caries experience of a 12 year old Filipinos in terms of the Average number of Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT is 4.48. This is high compared to the WHO standards of 3 DMFT and below for 212 year old individual.
The 2006 National Oral Health Survey (NOHS) revealed that 97.1% of six-year-old children suffer from tooth decay. More than four out of every five children of this subgroup manifested symptoms of dentinogenic infection. In addition, 78.4% of twelve-year-old children suffer from dental caries and 49.7% of the same age group manifested symptoms of dentinogenic infections. The severity of dental caries, expressed as the average number of decayed teeth indicated for filling/extraction or filled permanent teeth (DMFT) or temporary teeth (dmft), was 8.4 dmft for the six-year-old age group and 2.9 DMFT for the twelve-year-old age group (NOHS 2006).
Filipinos bear the burden of gum diseases early in their childhood. According to NOHS, 74% of twelve-year-old children suffer from gingivitis (NOHS 2006). If not treated early, these children become susceptible to irreversible periodontal disease as they enter adolescence and approach adulthood.
How dental caries and periodontal diseases are affecting the life of the Filipinos?
Name of Office: FHO, NCDPC
The combined ill effects of these two major diseases although not considered killer diseases (except oral cancer) weaken bodily defense and serve as portal of entry to other more serious, potentially dangerous and opportunistic infections overlapping other diseases present. Serious conditions include arthritis, heart disease, endocarditis, gastro-intestinal diseases, and ocular-skin-renal diseases.
Aside from physical deformity, these two oral diseases may also cause disturbance of speech significant enough to affect work performance, nutrition, social interactions, income, and self-esteem.
Poor oral health poses detrimental effects on school performance and mars success in later life. In fact, children who suffer from poor oral health are 12 times more likely to have restricted-activity days (USGAO 2000). In the Philippines, toothache is a common ailment among schoolchildren, and is the primary cause of absenteeism from school (Araojo 2003, 103-110). Indeed, dental and oral diseases create a silent epidemic, placing a heavy burden on Filipino schoolchildren.
How can dental caries and periodontal Disease be treated?
Name of Office: FHO, NCDPC
Dental caries is treated by removing the decayed tissue and then placing a filling in the cavity to restore the tooth function.
How can we communicate with the DOH regarding the Oral Health Program for the Filipinos?
Name of Office: FHO, NCDPC
You can communicate with:
DR. MANUEL F. CALONGE
Chief Health Program Officer
National Oral Health Program Coordinator
National Center for Disease Prevention and Control
Department of Health
San Lazaro, Compound, Sta. Cruz
Manila, Philippines
Tel. Nos. 743-8301 loc 1726, 1728 or 732-9956(direct)
E-mail: mfcalonge@yahoo.com
Or you can communicate with the Centers for Health Development located in your Region.
