1997-2-Editorial - Saudi Dental Journal

ISSN (Print) 1013-9052
EISSN 1658-3558

The Saudi Dental Journal,
P.O. Box 52500,
Riyadh 11563,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Tel.	966-1-467-7328
Fax.	933-1-467-7308 / 966-1-467-7534
Email	saudidj@ksu.edu.sa

Editorial

The need for a national prevention program in Saudi Arabia

Dentistry has improved rapidly in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia due to the tremendous support of the government coupled by its exceptional productive health stratagem relative to the changing patterns of oral health disease and its treatment modalities. Improvement has been distinct at various levels associated with the quality of manpower, utilization of delivery system by way of technological advances in both practice and materials as well as infection control systems. It can also be said that such progress has been substantiated by the enormous aggregates of dental practice covering mostly the rural and urban areas of the Kingdom.

Despite such progress, the establishment of a national preventive program in the Kingdom is still necessary and essential due to the increasing incidence of dental diseases, such as caries, periodontal problems and the early loss of deciduous teeth. Such a program should be governed by a national council that will administer its delivery system. Its main objective should be to device an oral health system that could oversee and evaluate the different preventive measures within the context of our nation's culture. The council should consists of representatives from both government and private sectors, i.e. the Ministry of Health, Dental Schools, Ministry of Defence, National Guard and the Security Forces; the Medical Health Services for both men and women schools, and the Saudi Dental Society; several big companies like the Saudi Arabian Company, ARAMCO, and various private dental clinics in different cities.

Formulation of such a program is unattainable without having gained the proper resources. Therefore, funding is a significant component for its success. Funding can be obtained from both the government and private dental sectors. Our resources can also be augmented by the contribution of various establishments who may wish to participate by way of dental equipment, materials and/or products.

It is to the best of our expectation that this concept of establishing a national preventive program will soon be realized to minimize and control the spread of dental diseases, as well as improving the oral hygiene of the Saudi Arabian population.

Abdullah R. Al-Shammery, BDS, MS
Editor- in - Chief