MoU offers dental implant treatments for B40 group
Oral health is wellbeing that encompasses a variety of important functions, including breathing, nutrition, speech, smiling and social life.’
KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with dental manufacturing company, Straumann Group Sdn Bhd (Straumann Group) to provide dental implant treatments for people.
The agreement will benefit the B40 group with Straumann Group to contribute 3,000 complete dental implant packages worth more than RM10 million to those in need.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin yesterday said the initiative would benefit patients who met the criteria, which would be revealed soon.
“Oral health is wellbeing that encompasses a variety of important functions, including breathing, nutrition, speech, smiling and social life.
“Having optimal oral health will add value to the comfort and confidence of the person to achieve the best capacity as well as engagement with the surrounding community.”
The National Oral Health Survey for Adults in 2010 showed that one in four adults used a dental prosthesis due to tooth loss.
Overall, 45.9 per cent of those who still had teeth need a prosthesis to replace a missing tooth and one of three toothless adults also needed a prosthesis, Khairy said.
“Therefore, many people still need treatment for the replacement of lost teeth to restore the main functions of the mouth.”
He said dental implants were replacement treatments made from biochemical materials, such as titanium.
He said they would not have any side effects on the patient’s body and bones, and they could stick directly to the surface of the titanium material.
Furthermore, dental implants did not interfere with nearby teeth and were easier to clean compared with other fixed prostheses, he added.
However, he said, only cases that met the criteria could receive this treatment.
The treatment would also need to be monitored as studies showed that 19 to 65 per cent of patients who received dental implant treatment got mucositis, and one to 47 per cent got inflammatory diseases (peri-implantitis) if they weren’t monitored regularly.
“In the Health Ministry, this treatment is performed by oral and maxillofacial surgery specialist, periodontist specialist and restorative specialist.
“The ministry hopes this collaboration will increase access to dental implant services and pave the way for the delivery of comprehensive dental health services to families.”