Oral health care availability in health centers of Mangalore taluk, India

Abstract

Background:Community-oriented oral health programs are seldom found in India. When primary health care systems were in the 1980s, dentistry was not adequately included. This has left oral health far behind other health services.Objectives:To find the availability of dental professionals, infrastructure, equipment, and treatments provided in health centers of Mangalore taluk.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical officers and dentists working in all the health centers of Mangalore taluk, using an interview schedule, the oral health care availability inventory (ORAI).Results:Among 23 health centers of Mangalore taluk, dental services were available at six health centers (26%) [two community health centers (CHCs) and four primary health centers (PHCs)]. Mouth mirrors, dental explorers, and extraction instruments were available at six health centers [two CHCs (100%) and four PHCs (19%)]. No health centers provided orthodontic tooth corrections, removal of impacted teeth, oral biopsies, and fabrication of removable dentures.Conclusions:Availability of dental services was limited in the health centers, and a vast majority of the rural population in Mangalore taluk did not have access to dental care.

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“…Suboptimal primary health centers (PHCs): Although dental care is a part of primary health care in India, dental care services are available only in few states at the primary health care level. [60] Thus, general practitioners and health workers at PHCs function as the first point of contact for dental patients with an acute dental pain. Due to nonavailability of dentist in rural areas, patients approach these nondental practitioners to get temporary relief.…”

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“…Regarding the level of independent variables related to the characteristics of the OHCTs and dental care available supplies, the results demonstrate that they are available to most OHCTs. A study in India noted that all the health centers that provided dental services possessed basic equipment both for identification of common oral diseases and for carrying out dental extractions and restorations, but preventive programs were not the focal point of the services provided ( Simon et al, 2014 ). In contrast, an African study showed that dental materials and equipment availability, skills of the practitioners, and the cost of services all play major roles toward provision and utilization of comprehensive oral care ( Nyamuryekunge et al, 2015 ).…”

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