Dental diseases on the rise, lack of dental care and awareness, 49 health centers without dental hygienist

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Oral cancer, tooth decay and gum disease are on the rise in the state yet there's a glaring lack of awareness and action. The major hurdle is the scarcity of dental hygienists to tackle these issues at the grassroots level and carry out essential tasks, including teeth cleaning in hospitals.

In the state's 49 health centers, not a single Dental Hygienist Grade 2 post has been established. This neglect violates the mandatory 1:1 ratio of Dental Hygienists outlined in the National Oral Health Policy and Dental Council Act. Across 14 districts encompassing community health centers and taluk hospitals, there's a void without hygienists. Dental cleaning, a crucial aspect is often neglected by doctors, citing their busy schedules leaving common patients without basic dental treatment.

The Vision Dental 2030 report submitted by the Dental Council to the government emphasizes the need for awareness and calls for strengthening activities by deploying an adequate number of dental hygienists. Not even 10 people are employed in this role, and the sole provider of a dental hygienist diploma course in the state, Thiruvananthapuram Dental College has only ten seats with graduates struggling to find jobs.

This crisis extends beyond legal bounds, as the non-creation of posts in all health centers exacerbates the problem. Meanwhile, foreign countries like Canada and the UK offer high-paying job opportunities for dental hygienists. Currently, 700 hygienists registered with the Dental Council are awaiting job opportunities.

A recent study by the Dental Health Service unveils a staggering 90% of the state's population suffering from some form of dental disease with 5% categorized as severe. Colon cancer affects 14 out of 100,000 people with 140 people in the pre-cancer stage.