ABUJA – Senate President David Mark has called for a review of dentistry practice in Nigeria to broaden its scope from mere treatment of teeth to general oral care.
The senate president made the call at the commemoration of the 4th National Oral Health week in Abuja on Monday.
He said it was high time Nigerians embraced healthy life styles to reduce the risk oral diseases, which could arise from environmental, economic, social and behavioural factors.
Mark, who spoke through his Chief of Staff, Sen. Anthony Manzo, said it was imperative to contain oral diseases, as it was becoming a major public health problem in the country.
“Widening the scope of dentistry will help in the development of oral health systems.
It will also help in framing policies in oral health as a key component of general health care,’’ he said.
He called for increased awareness and a collective action in tackling oral diseases in the country and the continent at large.
Earlier, the Minister of Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, said that the National Oral Health Policy had provided the framework for the improvement of oral healthcare services in the country.
“The policy recognises oral health as an integral part of general health care,” he said. (NAN)