The pattern of oral health service provided by dental nurses in primary care units (PCUs) in the year 2006.

Abstract

This study was aimed at describing: 1). the pattern of oral health service provision; 2). factors and constraints influencing oral health service in primary care units (PCUS) provided by dental nurses in the year 2006. A questionnaire was designed and required the supervising dentist in all 75 provincial health offices and dental hygienists working in 450 PCUS to respond during April and May 2007 survey. The result revealed that 64.1% of PCUS over the country provided no oral health service, 15.7% provided by dental hygienists and 12.5% provided by dental mobile team from nearby hospital. The average amount of oral health service in each PCU was 1,271 cases. Considering the promotion and prevention activities, oral health care activity in school children has made the highest outcome due to 652 cases and the second was oral health care provided in antenatal clinic and well baby clinic. The main constraint to dental hygienist working in PCU was inadequacy of budget (62.3%), inadequate media for health education (58.5%) and lack of instrument maintenance and repair (56.0%).