Seongnam City Successfully Conducts 'Dental Primary Care Program' for Elementary Students This Year

Seongnam City Hall

Seongnam City in Gyeonggi Province was selected as an outstanding local government in the ‘Elementary School Student Dental Care Physician Project’ hosted by Gyeonggi Province and received an institutional commendation.

The Dental Care Physician Project is a program that supports dental treatment focused on preventing oral diseases for 4th-grade elementary school students, the period when permanent teeth alignment is completed.

Gyeonggi Province evaluated the 31 cities and counties in the province on ▲participation rate of target children ▲satisfaction of students’ guardians ▲project outcomes for the project conducted from May to November this year, selecting Seongnam City as the only outstanding local government in the province.

Seongnam City was recognized for strengthening promotion of the Elementary School Student Dental Care Physician Project, encouraging target children to receive dental treatment, and helping them develop proper oral health habits.

The participation rate was also high, with 6,835 out of 7,242 4th-grade students from 74 elementary schools targeted this year, accounting for 94.4%, receiving dental care physician services.

These target students received free oral examinations, oral hygiene tests, and fluoride application at 246 Seongnam City cooperative dental clinics near their homes. Depending on their oral condition, tartar removal, dental sealants, and panoramic radiography were also performed.

Oral health education on tooth brushing, flossing, proper eating habits, and fluoride usage was also provided.

The medical cost is estimated at about 48,000 KRW per person (including 70% provincial subsidy).

Parental satisfaction was high. Analyzing responses from 3,698 participants in the survey among those who received the service, 97.2% (3,593 people) answered that they were ‘satisfied’ with the Dental Care Physician Project.

A Seongnam City Public Health Center official said, "The Elementary School Student Dental Care Physician Project started as a pilot project in Seongnam City in 2016, the first in the province, which became the basis for expanding it to a Gyeonggi Province project from 2019," adding, "We will continue to provide dental care physician services to children at the stage when permanent teeth alignment is completed by expanding designated clinics."