Experiences in dental public health intervention in China
Peking University School of Stomatology (PKU-SS) was appointed as the WHO Research and Training Collaborating Center for Preventive dentistry since 1981 (WHOCC-CNH26). PKU-SS leads the development of the preventive dentistry in China, in terms of various national dental public programs, national campaigns, national epidemiology survey and national oral health policy making and strategy planning. These continuous efforts in oral health prevention bring the benefit to billions of Chinese every year.
Peking University School of Stomatology has organized 30 years of 'National Love Teeth Day' on 20th September every year since 1989, to promote oral health education nationwide. We also lead the comprehensive intervention for children's oral health in China programme, which has been conducted 10 years and provided oral examination to 10 million children all over China, with 5.2 million children received pit and fissure sealants, 2.2 million children received topical fluoride application, and 12,000 elderly people in low income families received free prosthodontics treatment.
Figure 1. Free consultancy activities held every National Love Tooth Day
Figure 2 Vice president of National Health and Family Planing Commission Mr. Wang Guoqiang came to visit Department of Preventive Dentistry in 2015
PKU-SS have also led 4 national oral health surveys over 40 years. We have organized national and international meetings to gather colleagues from all over the globe to exchange their knowledge and experience in the latest research, policy and practice in oral diseases prevention. PKU-SS has carried out serious of national workshops on dental public health, bring the world class knowledge and technology of preventive dentistry to hundreds of dental public experts in China, which built a strong prevention team caring for 1.4 billions of Chinese population.
Figure 3 National Training Seminar for the 4th National Oral Health Epidemiology Survey.
Figure 4. National Dental Public Health Policy and Strategy Workshop in 2010
Figure 5. National Oral Public Health Human Resource Training Workshop in 2016
Most importantly, PKU-SS successfully participated epidemiology researches and policy making to shape national oral health prevention strategies. 'Healthy China 2030' , issued by the stated council and reviewed by the central committee of the Communist Party of China, is a national healthcare strategy with transform the current healthcare from treatment-orientated to preventive-orientated, and to integrate oral health into overall healthcare plan, with the clear goal of controlling and reducing caries prevalence of 12 years old to 25% in 2030. 'The 13th Five-Year National Health Plan' published in 2017, included regular oral health examination to children, adults and pre-pregnant women into the regular health check. The Mid and Long term plan work plan of chronic disease prevention in China(2017-2025) also have oral health related contents. The targets '3 Reduction, 3 Healthy' , which include 'Reduce Salt, Oil, Sugar intake ; Promote Healthy Oral Cavity, Healthy Weight, Healthy Bone' . This plan also indicated community health center to provide oral health check, to promote appropriate preventive technique in children and oral disease management for elderly population and high risk population. PKU-SS also participated in shaping the national oral health action plan 2019-2025, with four actions, to carry out oral health promotion, to provide lifelong oral health preventive management, to improve oral health provider's ability, and to guide the oral healthcare industry.
Figure 6. Host the 11th International Conference of Asian Academy of Preventive Dentistry
Figure 7. Host the 9th Asian Chief Dental Officers’ Meeting in 2017