Tooth decay – Jamaica Observer


MOUNT SALEM, St James – Health and Welfare Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has expressed concern that unnecessary and sometimes harmful extractions are being performed on Jamaicans as a way for dental students from abroad to gain experience and has suggested a policy document, drafted from his ministry. Oral Health Unit, to improve missions that come to the country to perform dental procedures.

These visiting volunteers often offer their services to the most needy in rural areas of the country who fall through the cracks of the local system; however, Tufton said some of them are doing more harm than good.

“We want to pause or reduce it. For starters, it doesn’t feel good or it doesn’t look good because it could be interpreted as them coming to take advantage of our population by practicing tooth extraction and then leaving these Jamaicans in a state where they now have other problems,” the minister said during a visit to the dental department at the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in Montego Bay last Thursday after his ministry introduced two new mammography machines to the hospital, with the help of Atomic Energy International. Pan American Health Agency and Organization.

In addition to aesthetic damage, he said, some residents of the area who have had their teeth removed also suffer from social and economic challenges along with the emergence of other oral health problems.

Health and Welfare Minister Dr Christopher Tufton speaking during a visit to the dental department at Cornwall Regional Hospital last Thursday. (Photo: Anthony Lewis)

He has warned that missions that do not offer holistic health care may have a challenge entering Jamaica in the future.

“If (extraction) is all you come to do, and you bring in dental students who may be competent to do it, but who are just coming to fulfill the hours and practice, we’re going to be less welcoming. Because it what we want is a proper oral. Health program. If you come with a mission, the mission must be complete and must create a longer-term benefit for the local population,” Tufton emphasized.

Procedures, he said, should also include efforts to save teeth, such as fillings, denture reconstruction and denture reproduction.

“In a sense, we really need them to come in and help us solve some of the problems that they’ve created. And I say that with the greatest respect, because I know that at the time of delivery, it’s perceived as a good. service. But over time it becomes a challenge and we don’t want any interpretation that people are taking advantage of my teeth to come and exercise people only with extraction,” said the minister, adding that the hospital has a responsibility to provide. better patient care.

“We need to invest more money (and) more resources to equip them so that when a patient comes in with a toothache, that’s not the only option (dental staff) has because they they lack equipment or materials, it is for them to have the capacity to evaluate, x-ray, fill, replace whatever. This is not their burden, it is our burden in the Government. We must put the equipment in place,” said the minister.

“So I have asked for a review of this process to ensure – through (chief dental officer at the Ministry of Health and Welfare) Dr Irving McKenzie – that we adequately equip our Oral Health Unit. Our oral health is a big part of overall health,” Tufton said.

October is celebrated as oral health month. Last year Governor General Sir Patrick Allen proclaimed October 2 as Oral Health Professionals Day in Jamaica.

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