On the sidelines of the HIDEC 2025 conference of the Dentistry industry held in Ho Chi Minh City, reporters of Health & Life Newspaper had a conversation with Dr. Le Trung Chanh - Director of the Central Dentistry Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City (under the Ministry of Health ), co-head of the conference organizing committee, about the current situation, challenges and solutions in oral care for the elderly and children.
High rate of tooth decay, periodontitis, tooth loss
According to Dr. Le Trung Chanh, pilot surveys in Ho Chi Minh City and several provinces show that the rate of tooth decay and periodontal disease in children remains very high, contrary to expectations that economic development will lead to improvements in oral health care.
Older adults also experience many dental problems, from tooth loss to periodontal disease, which directly affect their ability to eat and overall health, especially their cardiovascular health.
Experts note that many studies have demonstrated a link between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease, making screening and treatment of periodontal disease in older adults extremely important.
Dr. Le Trung Chanh in school dental care activities in Tay Ninh .
"The Ministry of Health has implemented Project 628, including two main pillars: Improving the capacity for medical examination and treatment and oral disease prevention in the period of 2021 - 2030. Ho Chi Minh City is at the forefront of oral health examination for the elderly, combining health education and treatment of oral diseases, while integrating screening programs to detect early periodontal diseases" - Director of Ho Chi Minh City Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology informed.
According to experts, for children, especially preschool and primary school students, school dental programs are implemented to educate oral hygiene skills and protect baby teeth.
The pilot “school-station” model has trained and certified primary health care workers to guide children in oral care and preventive measures. These preventive measures include fluoride application, proper dental hygiene instruction and regular check-ups, helping to reduce the risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease at an early stage.
Uneven distribution of human resources
"However, the Dentistry sector is still facing a serious shortage of human resources, especially at local health facilities," the expert pointed out. Accordingly, public hospitals are responsible for taking care of vulnerable people, but limited resources and inadequate salaries have forced many doctors to work in the private sector, which mainly focuses on profit-generating services.
Dr. Nguyen Dang Khoa - Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management (Ministry of Health) talks with Dr. Le Trung Chanh (right cover) at the Central Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology, Ho Chi Minh City.
This leads to a public-private gap, in which many provinces and districts have almost no dentists, making it difficult to implement preventive and dental care programs.
Another problem is the uneven distribution of human resources. Although the country has about 22 official facilities for training in Dentistry, most of the students after graduation concentrate on working in Ho Chi Minh City or large centers, causing localities (both provincial and communal levels) to have a serious shortage of Dentistry human resources.
"To solve this problem, the Ministry of Health has implemented technology transfer programs, trained grassroots medical staff and issued practice certificates. However, this needs to go hand in hand with control policies, ensuring that those who are trained stay and serve long-term at the grassroots level," the expert emphasized.
Balancing resources
Experts also emphasize that dental care is not just a matter of aesthetics or nutrition, but also has a direct impact on overall health, especially for the elderly.
"The development strategy of the Dentistry sector in the coming time focuses on two key groups: Children and the elderly. For children, priority is given to health education, prevention of tooth decay and periodontitis from preschool to primary school. For the elderly, focus on screening, treatment of periodontitis and tooth loss, improving quality of life and reducing the risk of systemic diseases" - Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Dentistry Hospital shared.
Experts from the Central Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology in Ho Chi Minh City receive training in oral care at the Military-Civilian Medical Center of Con Dao Special Zone.
In addition, balancing public and private resources, improving human resources capacity at the grassroots level, and synchronously implementing prevention programs are key solutions.
According to experts, only when treatment and prevention programs are comprehensively implemented and human resources are allocated reasonably, can Vietnam improve oral health for children and the elderly in a sustainable manner.
"In the context of a rapidly aging population and changing eating habits, dental care is no longer an option, but an essential factor to ensure public health," the expert noted.
Accordingly, the steps of education, prevention and improvement of treatment capacity must go hand in hand to reduce the rate of tooth decay, periodontal disease and tooth loss, thereby contributing to improving the quality of life for current and future generations...
Dr. Le Trung Chanh, MD, PhD, said that the 4th National Oral Health Survey, implemented by the Ministry of Health for 12 months (starting from September 2025), through the Central Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology and the Central Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology in Ho Chi Minh City, will provide important data in planning policies for oral health care and prevention in the coming time. In addition, the HIDEC 2025 dental conference will also be very helpful for scientific research activities and technology transfer between medical facilities at home and abroad.
Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/bao-dong-tinh-trang-suc-khoe-rang-mieng-nguoi-cao-tuoi-va-tre-em-o-viet-nam-169251109141702269.htm
Comment (0)