In a recent breakthrough, a team of Japanese researchers has revealed a striking link between inadequate dental health and a significant reduction in brain volume. This revelation underscores the interplay between oral well-being and brain health. It highlights the pivotal role of maintaining optimal oral health plays to nurture a thriving brain.
According to the research at Tohoku University, Japan published in Nature Aging, gum disease and tooth loss are linked to brain shrinkage in the hippocampus, which is involved in memory and Alzheimer’s disease.
The Status of Dental Health in India
According to WHO, Oral health is essential to General health and quality of life. Good oral health is important for your overall well-being. Oral Health problems like toothache associated with decay, gum diseases, irregular alignment of teeth, and mouth cancer are prevalent in India, some to the extent of nearly half of the population.
Routine dental check-ups and early intervention can prevent most common dental problems. Oral health has been neglected over the years due to a lack of awareness in the general population and even among healthcare providers, especially in underserved sections of society. Intervention on a primary level is required for the prevention of oral health problems.
Even among India’s most privileged, regular dental check-ups are often overlooked, not to mention those whose primary concern is securing their next meal.
Importance of Mobile Dental Units in Brining About a Change
Mobile Dental Units play a crucial role in providing dental services and addressing the challenges faced by the urban poor in accessing dental services in the following ways:
Increased Accessibility
Mobile dental units bring dental care directly to underserved urban areas, including low-income neighborhoods, homeless shelters, and community centers. This eliminates the need for individuals to travel long distances or arrange transportation to visit a dental clinic, which can be expensive and time-consuming for the urban poor.
Convenience and Flexibility
Mobile dental units operate on a flexible schedule and can be set up in different locations within urban areas. This allows individuals to receive dental care at a time and place that is convenient for them, such as during their lunch break or after work. By offering services in familiar and accessible locations, mobile units reduce barriers to dental care for the urban poor.
No Cost Services
Mobile dental units provide free of cost dental services to individuals who cannot afford regular dental care. These units are equipped to offer preventive and primary dental treatments such as cleanings, fillings, extractions, and screenings. By delivering free-of-cost care directly to the urban poor, mobile units help reduce financial barriers. They ensure that individuals can access essential dental services without incurring any cost.
Oral Health Education
In addition to providing dental treatments, mobile dental units focus on oral health education and preventive care. They offer verbal hygiene instructions, and demonstrations, and distribute educational materials to raise awareness about the importance of dental health and proper oral hygiene practices. By empowering the urban poor with knowledge and preventive strategies, mobile dental units contribute to long-term oral health improvements in underserved communities.
Early Intervention and Preventive Care
Mobile dental units often target populations that have limited access to regular dental check-ups. By reaching out to the urban poor directly, these units can identify and address oral health issues at an early stage, preventing them from becoming more severe and requiring costly treatments later on. Early intervention and preventive care are essential for maintaining oral health and reducing the burden of dental problems among the urban poor.
Overall, mobile dental units help save trouble for the urban poor by bringing dental care to their doorstep, offering free services, providing oral health education, and focusing on early intervention and preventive care. These initiatives improve access to dental services, promote oral health, and contribute to the overall well-being of the urban poor.
Smile Foundation and Dental Health Services for the Underserved
Smile Foundation with its health programme, Health Cannot Wait has been working in the field of primary healthcare for the last 2 decades. To make dental treatment affordable, and accessible and to address the gaps existing in dental health care at the community level, many of our corporate partners joined hands with us to run Mobile dental units across India.
These vans have been providing diagnostic as well as curative services
along with dispensing medications through the OPDs. These OPDs through a roster-based approach reach villages across the country and have benefitted approx. thousands of beneficiaries to date.
