Hong Kong to offer free dental check-ups to preschoolers from September

Hong Kong to offer free dental check-ups to preschoolers from September More than 70 per cent of kindergartens join scheme bringing screenings and fluoride treatment to campuses Hong Kong preschoolers will be offered free dental check-ups starting next month, with more than 70 per cent of the city’s kindergartens already signed up for the new government initiative. The Department of Health announced on Monday the launch of the Outreach Oral Health Programme for Preschool Children on September 1, aimed at fostering oral hygiene habits and preventing tooth decay at an early stage. Under the scheme, dental teams from 23 participating service providers will visit kindergartens across all 18 districts once each academic year, offering pupils aged 32 months or older free oral screenings and risk assessments. “Children usually have a full set of milk teeth by the age of three. The period between the ages of three and six is the most crucial time to protect these teeth,” said Dr Kitty Hse Mei-yin, consultant in charge of the dental service at the department. “At this stage, children love to eat, which makes reinforcing dental care and oral hygiene extremely important.” Hse said that conducting examinations in a familiar school environment helped ease young children’s anxieties.