Oral Health Challenges from Saudi Arabia

Dr. Mohammad Al-Rafee

General Director of Dental ServicesMinistry of Health, Saudi Arabia

Outline:

• Demographic data • Trends in dental caries • Dental Services • Obstacles and Challenges• The way forward

KSA Demographic data (2012)*:•Kingdom size: 2,250,000 sq. km.

• Population (2012): 29,195,895

• 0-14 years: (31.41 %)• 15-64 years : (65.73 %)• 65 years and over: (2.86 %)

• Annual growth rate : (3.19 %)

• Saudi: (68.4 %) Non-Saudi : (31.6%)

* Source: Central Department Of Statistics & Information, KSA, 2012

Trends in dental caries (KSA):

• 1980s:- (6-9 years old):

dmft (boys)= 4.14 (girls)= 3.43 - (12 years old):

DMFT (boys)= 1.61 (girls)= 1.68

Source : Al-Shammery AR, Guile EE, el-Backly M. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 1990

Trends in dental caries (KSA):

• 1990s: - (6-7 years old):

dmft = 4.3

- (12-13 years old): DMFT (rural)= 2.65 (urban)= 2.69

Sources : Alshammery AR, J Public Health Dent. 1999 Oral Health Survey of Saudi Arabia, 1991-1994

Trends in dental caries (KSA):

• 2000s:- (6-7 years old):dmft (Riyadh)= 6.53 (Qassem)= 6.35

- (12-13 years old): DMFT (Riyadh)= 5.06 (Qassem)= 4.53

• Source : Aldosari AM, Akapata ES, Wyne A, Khan N. Study’s Final Report, March 2001

Trends in dental caries (KSA):

• 2000s:- (6-7 years old):

dmft (Riyadh)= 7.34 (Al Wazzan KA, Saudi Dent. J. 2004)

- (12-13 years old):

DMFT (Riyadh)= 5.94 (Al Sadhan SA, Saudi Dent. J. 2006)

Trends in dental caries (KSA):

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Albaha Aseer Madinah Dammam Jizan Najran

dmft

dmft for 6-7 years old children in six regions of Saudi Arabia

Sugar consumption (per capita):

Country Per capita sugar consumption kilogrammes - raw value (2005)*

KSA 32.9 (was 28.8 in 1991)

*Figures above are for centrifugal sugars (cane and beet sugars) only. Source: Sugar yearbook 2005, cited in: www.whocollab.od.mah.se/expl/globalsugar.html

Dental Services, MOH, KSA (cont.):

• Manpower (MOH only)

ManpowerYear 2000 2003 2005 2012

Dentists 1,255 1,504 1,655 2524Hygienists 160 248 257 316Technicians 291 323 486 575Assistants 238 630 755 1416

Dental Services, MOH, KSA (cont.):

• Total dentists in KSA 10150

• Dentist to population ratio in KSA 1: 2876

Strategic Plan for Dental Services in MOH for the next 10 years

Target Ratio 1 : 2000Target Total Dentist No. in KSA 13569

Target Dentist No.In MOH (60%)

8141

Current No. of Dentist (MOH) 2524

Shortage in Dentist No.)MOH(

5617

Challenges

• Nature of the problem:

• Dental caries – Irrevesable damages• Prevention - Human behavior

• Kingdom diversity.

1800 Km

1400 Km

• No. Of cities and villages 245 (> 5000 inhabitants)

•No Children per Family

4-7

• StaffShortage.

Educational background.

Attitude towards prevention.

Real participation and contribution in

preventive activities.

• Decision makers THE NEGLECTED EPIDEMIC:

Oral Diseases Local and International Organisations

• Funding: (Toward prevention)

The way forward:

More investment in prevention.

Evidence-based (effective and efficient).

Thinking Institutionally.

• Water Fluoridation• School Programs• Seal Saudi Arabia!!

Thank you