KOCHI: Kerala needs an effective oral healthcare plan for kids so that the best practices in oral hygiene and dental care reach every child in the State, said noted cardiac surgeon Dr M S Valiathan.
He was speaking after inaugurating PedoByte-2016, the 38th national conference of the Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry (ISPPD) here on Thursday.
“Practitioners in the field of preventive dentistry, their organisations and the State Health Department could associate with all schools to initiate a sustained campaign in this direction, and also ensure universal access to advanced technologies in the field of dentistry,” he said.
Dental Council of India president Dr Dibyendu Mazumdar and Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences vice-principal Dr Anand Kumar spoke.
Organising secretary Dr Balagopal Varma said dental diseases and oral infections in children are largely ignored in the initial stage due to lack of awareness about their effects on other parts of the body, leading to major diseases.
The 3-day conference will also feature a walkathon for children, student presentations and public awareness programmes on the concluding day (Saturday).