With more than a hundred million population, more than 7,000 islands, there is an estimate of more than 30 million Filipinos across the country that are already wearing dental dentures. And what’s even more alarming is, studies have shown that a large part of that 30 million are composed of young ones, ages 15 and above.
There’s no denying that losing one’s teeth is more than just losing the aesthetic. It is a life-changing experience that changes how a person talks, eats, and even acts which is often taken for granted. And to help Filipinos bring back their smiles and confidence while educating them more about oral health care, Polident, in partnership with the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) and Philippine Association of Registered Dental Technologists (PARDTI) launched its Oplan Balik-Ngiti advocacy project.
The program will provide free dental checkups, free dentures, free denture care kits (that include Polident adhesive, cleanser, and a educational leaflet), and free denture care education in 30 barangays within 10 different cities nationwide from the end of March 2023 until June 2023.
Oplan Balik-Ngiti advocacy will give free dental consultations in selected cities and barangays nationwide
“We, at Haleon, are committed to empowering more people to be included in opportunities for better everyday health which includes restoring lost teeth by funding access to dentures and partnering with the most credible organizations when it comes to oral health,” said Jeffrey Go, general manager of Haleon Philippines and Indonesia during the program’s launch held last March 24, 2023 at the Trinoma Activity Center.
Meanwhile, according to the National Survey on Oral Health in 2018, 72 percent of Filipinos are suffering from tooth decay and there are also 43 percent with gum diseases. There are several factors behind it including limited access to dentists and proper oral hygiene products. And the Oplan Balik-Ngit program is aiming to bridge that gap by giving away 1,000 free dentures. Polident also prioritizes existing denture wearers and drives denture care education by giving away at least 50,000 denture care kits.
“Many Filipinos requiring dentures couldn’t get one due to many factors including financial constraints. The cost of partial dentures varies from an estimate of P5,000 to P20,000 depending on the types of material and number of teeth to be replaced,” said Dr. Ronaldo Nunez, a member of PDA and the President of PARDTI. “And when a person needs full dentures, that becomes even more costly.”
To know more about this advocacy, click here.