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Recommendations for Oral Health

IDA recognizes the importance of prevention, diagnosis and treatment necessary to restore and maintain the oral health of infants, children and adolescents. Comprehensive health care cannot be achieved unless oral care is included in all health service programmes.

The recommendations are suggested because IDA recognizes that oral health has a significant impact on overall health and well-being as mentioned earlier. The association raises oral health awareness, prevention, early detection and management of dental, oral and craniofacial tissues and integrate it into health care, community- based programmes and social services.

The association gives priority to Child Oral health Card because of the following belief that:

  1. "Oral health means much more than healthy teeth."
  2. "Oral health is integral to general health."
The stress is on:
  1. Changing perceptions of the public, policymakers and health providers regarding oral health and disease so that oral health becomes an accepted component of general health.
  2. Removing known barriers between people and oral health services.
  3. Accelerating the building of the scientific and evidence base, as well as the application of research findings to improve oral health.
  4. Ensuring the adequacy of public and private health personnel and resources to meet the oral health needs of all Indian and enable the integration of oral health effectively with general health. The focus is on having a responsive, competent, diverse, and flexible workforce.
  5. Expanding public-private partnerships and building upon common goals to improve the oral health of those who suffer disproportionately from oral diseases.
IDA recommends oral health care be included in the design and provision of individual and community- based health care programmes to achieve comprehensive health care. This can be achieved through the National Oral Health Programme.