By Minerva BC Newman
Cebu City — Eighty percent of Filipinos suffer from dental problems with dental caries as one of the highest diseases among children and young adults in the country, says Department of Health (DOH) Central Visayas dentist, Dr. Rickman Cabello.
Cabello said caries or tooth cavities are alarming among children and adults from 7 to 28 years old, while periodontal diseases are prevalent among the elderly.
Dr. Felix Asoy, president of the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) Cebu chapter, told Manila Bulletin the figures are alarming.
“Dental care is the most neglected aspect of health and wellness among Filipinos and it doesn’t help that people especially parents use the dentists and seeing them to scare children. This has become a dreaded misconception about dentists,” Asoy said.
To popularize dental care and allay misconception about dentists, the PDA, DOH and Department of Education (DepEd) launched a massive information campaign and a dental mission last Monday at the Mabolo Elementary School in Barangay Mabolo, this city.