Despite high- incidences of dental caries and periodontal diseases among the Korean school´ children, few socially significant policy measures have been taken for improvement of school dental health program.
This study was conducted to identify present status of school dental health program based upon relevant data available for more efficient school dental health program.
The results are summarized as follows:
1. Administrative organization reform is urgently called for by newly establishing;´ 1) A School Health Committee at the level of both Municipal/Provincial Board´ of Education and Town-ship Office of EdVcation, 2) Bureau of School Health Service and Section of School Dental Health Service within the arms of Ministry of Education, 3) Dental Affairs Division in the Bureau of Medical Affairs, Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, and 4) School Health Service Clinic in Pusan and every Province.
2. Dental health resources should be more efficiently utilized and strengthened by newly institutionalizing; 1) Use of dental hygienists for school dental health program as early as possible, 2) A commissioning dentist system for several school with a community under the responsible
´ authorities, and 3) Production of dental hygienivs at the College of Dentistry.
3. The following activities are recommended to strengthen the existing school dental health program; 1) Inclusion of appropriate dental health curricula for elementary school, 2) Development of mobile school dental health education program and person-to-person dental guidance; program by using dental hygienists, 3) Implementing _water fluoridation program in urban area and topical application of fluoride (mouth rinsing method) in rural area, and 4) Periodical dental check up for school children.
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