Nowon-gu, First Seoul District to Support Dental Checkups and Treatment for 1st Grade Elementary Students

Expanding Target to 3,500 First Graders Following Existing 4th Graders, 180 Million Won Budget, 90 Local Dental Clinics Participating

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Nowon-gu (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) is launching the "Student Dental Primary Care Project," the first of its kind among Seoul's autonomous districts, to prevent oral diseases in first-grade elementary school students.

The dental primary care project for first graders, costing 180 million KRW from the district budget, targets 3,500 students. It provides 40,000 KRW per person for dental examinations.

Ninety dental clinics in the area are participating, and the clinics offering examinations can be checked through school newsletters and the smartphone app "Dent-i."

Students wishing to receive treatment must first make a phone reservation at a dental clinic before visiting. Required documents include an oral examination questionnaire and a consent form for personal information provision. If these are pre-registered on the smartphone app "Dent-i," there is no need to submit them separately when visiting the clinic, making the process convenient. They can also be filled out and submitted at the clinic.

The examination includes a questionnaire, oral inspection, dental plaque test, tooth cleaning, fluoride application, and dental sealants. Depending on the condition of the teeth, X-rays and their interpretation are also conducted.

Additionally, oral health education is provided to promote health, including proper tooth brushing techniques, fluoride usage, and healthy eating habits.

After the examination, the dental clinic notifies the student of their dental condition, oral health management details, and any measures taken via text message and the app. The district expanded the dental primary care project to first graders because permanent teeth begin to emerge around age seven, making it a crucial period for cavity prevention with clear preventive effects.

Since 2012, the district has been running a primary care project for fourth graders (costing 190 million KRW, with 80% from city funds and 20% from district funds). Last year, 3,900 students, representing 98% of fourth graders in 39 elementary schools, benefited from the treatment.

Furthermore, to expand the dental primary care project to first graders, on the 27th of last month, the district office signed a memorandum of understanding with the Seoul Northern Education Support Office, Nowon-gu Dental Association, and the smartphone app developer Kai AI Company.

District Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, "Oral care for students is the foundation for maintaining healthy teeth up to 100 years of age, so prevention, including the formation of oral habits, is important," adding, "We will continue to do our best to support children’s healthy growth through various initiatives."