Gangbuk-gu Operates 'Free Dental Primary Care Program' for 4th Grade Elementary Students

Project Fully Funded...The Only One Among Seoul's Autonomous Districts

An elementary school student is receiving oral care at a dental medical institution. Provided by Gangbuk-gu.

Gangbuk-gu, Seoul (Mayor Lee Soon-hee) is operating a comprehensive oral disease prevention program called ‘Student Dental Care Physician’ free of charge for 4th-grade elementary school students in the district until November this year.

This project was promoted as a matching project between Seoul City and autonomous districts, but after being converted to a Ministry of Health and Welfare project in June, city subsidies were discontinued. As a result, the previously free program now incurs out-of-pocket expenses not only for basic checkups but also for scaling and dental sealants.

Gangbuk-gu held meetings with elementary school health teachers and communicated with the dental association, becoming the only autonomous district in Seoul to fully fund the project. They decided to continue the free Student Dental Care Physician program for 4th-grade elementary students without any out-of-pocket costs, as before.

Students wishing to participate can make a reservation in advance and visit one of the 57 cooperative dental clinics in Gangbuk-gu to receive preventive care such as fluoride application, oral examinations, and if necessary, services like dental sealants and tartar removal free of charge. For cooperative dental clinics and other details, please contact the Gangbuk-gu Public Health Center website or the Gangbuk-gu Public Health Center Oral Health Center.

Mayor Lee Soon-hee said, “The free Student Dental Care Physician program is an important step to take care of students’ health,” adding, “We will continue to prepare various programs to promote oral health so that students can form proper oral health care habits.”