The Department of Health announced today that a new Outreach Oral Health Programme for Pre-school Children will be launched on September 1, offering students free annual oral screening and preventive dental care on campus.
Under the initiative, designated professional dental teams will visit kindergartens to provide participating children aged 32 months or older with free oral assessments, screenings and topical fluoride applications as needed to prevent tooth decay. Teams will also issue individualised oral health reports and advice to parents.
To build healthy long-term habits, dental teams will additionally conduct oral health workshops for teaching staff, equipping them to effectively convey dental hygiene messages in the classroom.
The programme spans all 18 districts in Hong Kong, with 23 appointed service providers proactively contacting local kindergartens to arrange visits. As of mid-August, 680 of Hong Kong’s 949 kindergartens – over 70% – have enrolled, benefiting tens of thousands of children and families.
The department urged remaining kindergartens and parents to join the initiative. Parents can sign up directly through their child’s kindergarten, while interested schools may email am3_cds@dh.gov.hk for details.
