Hong Kong to offer free dental check-ups to preschoolers from September

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The Hong Kong Department of Health announced the launch of the Outreach Oral Health Programme for Preschool Children, scheduled to begin on September 1. More than 70 percent of the city’s kindergartens signed up for the initiative, which utilized 23 participating service providers to perform annual oral screenings and risk assessments for pupils aged 32 months and older across all 18 districts. Dr. Kitty Hse Mei-yin, a consultant for the department, noted the program aimed to foster hygiene habits during the critical window for milk teeth development between the ages of three and six. Conducting the exams in schools was intended to minimize anxiety among young children.

Consequences

The initiative will provide systematic oral health coverage to a large majority of the city's preschool population starting in the upcoming academic year. By performing screenings in a familiar environment, the program is expected to facilitate early detection of tooth decay and promote the establishment of long-term oral hygiene habits.

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