Change life style, doctor says

By LULU MARK
THE chewing of betel nuts is one of the leading causes of oral health problems in Papua New Guinea where the dental health workforce is low, a doctor says.
The University of Tasmania College of Health and Medicine Associate Prof Dr Leonard Crocombe said poor dental hygiene, poor diet, smoking, lack of access to healthcare and low fluoride exposure were the other lifestyle causes of poor oral health.
Crocombe, who is also a visiting lecturer at the University PNG School of Medicine and Health Sciences, said a change in lifestyle would improve oral health but there is lack of education and promotion programmes in the communities.
Crocombe said PNG could not depend on overseas experts or programmes developed abroad to solve its challenges.
“PNG has its own set of oral health problems and social problems that have to be tackled by the PNG locals,” he said. Crocombe said just like Australia, PNG would never be able to afford to supply comprehensive dental care to everyone, therefore, there was a need for innovative approaches for oral health education in the country.
“Oral health needs to be part of a primary healthcare system that involves the local communities.”
Crocombe said PNG needed community oral health promotions which should include options such as salt fluoridation, affordable toothbrushes and toothpaste, school-based dental health education, dental screening and fissure sealant programmes.
In addition, he said a dental workforce for PNG’s needs that includes non-dental workers must be trained to use minimally invasive and preventive dental treatments.
“With dental care, it could be a village-based basic care with referral to dental therapists, then to dentists, and then to dental specialists,” Crocombe said.
“Possibly, village health workers could be trained in dental and oral cancer screening, oral health promotion, fluoride applications, and glass ionomer sealants.
Crocombe added that it was important that medical and nursing personnel continued to provide basic dental care.
He said the dental workforce needed were dental officers, therapists and technicians, specialists and chair-side assistants.
He said the government should monitor the workforce number, size, composition and mix to ensure most appropriate workforce.