Oral healthcare practitioners urged to keep abreast with latest tech
Published on: Sunday, March 24, 2019
By: Jo Ann Mool
KOTA KINABALU: Oral healthcare practitioners are urged to keep abreast with the latest technology so as to provide the best treatment for patients.
“Patients’ knowledge have escalated in this digital world and so have their expectations on the quality of care as we enter the Era of Digital Dentistry.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The profession holds the responsibility to adopt the advancement of healthcare for every patient,” said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal when opening the Ninth Borneo Dental Congress and Trade Exhibition cum 10th Malaysian (MDA) Dental Association Eastern Zone Annual General Meeting, here, Saturday. His speech was delivered by State Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk Stephen Wong.
“Oral disease is not only a local issue here in Malaysia but globally. The Global Burden of Diseases Study 2016 reported that oral disease affects half of the world population, which is 3.56 billion people worldwide, with untreated tooth decay (dental caries) in permanent tooth being the most prevalent condition assessed.
“In some Asia-Pacific countries, the incidence of oral cancer is within the top three of all cancers. Back home, the National Oral Health Survey of Adults 2010 conducted by the Oral Health Division of the Ministry of Health Malaysia showed eight of 10 adults had experienced tooth decay and five of 10 adults suffered from complex gum diseases,” said Shafie.
Shafie said it has been the State Government’s priority to upgrade and expand the country’s health services to cater for the needs of the people not only in the urban areas but also in the interior and remote areas.
ADVERTISEMENT
“This is guided by our vision “A Nation Working Together for Better Health’ and our mission of ‘Achieving Better Health through Consolidation of Services’.
“I urge the private sector to work with us in public-private initiatives for the benefit of the people,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Shafie also said the Sabah Government supported all health initiatives organised in the State.
“I believe we have the best fundamental factors - good leaders coupled with the full commitment of the profession and related industries. I am confident that we can work together to achieve higher standards of health for Malaysians,” he said.
About 400 participants from six countries – Korea, Indonesia, Brunei, India, Singapore and Malaysia are participating in the three-day event since March 22, with the theme “Unleash the Picasso in You.”
Meanwhile, MDA President Dr Ng Woan Tyng, in her speech, said the theme was apt and timely.
“In today’s day and age, dentistry in Malaysia challenges to face the therapeutic-technological advances and the need for equal access to oral health treatment for the whole population.
“We still continue to face changing disease patterns, ageing populations, escalating costs and the need to improve access to quality care for all,” she said, adding she was convinced that through the quality presentations covering all disciplines of dentistry in the congress, the impact of oral health on general health will be highlighted and addressed.
“The provision of quality dental care to the public has emerged as one of the highest objectives for dental professionals,” she said.
“It is an obligation and perhaps a challenge for us the practitioners to responsibly frame the different uses of technology into our profession, while holding strong to the ethics and professional code of conduct in our daily practice of dentistry.
“We are also obliged to keep a good image of the profession, as the public image of our profession, as a whole, is dependent on the impression created by each of us.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
“We are therefore expected to be a true professional, be honest, decent, fair, and trustworthy and law abiding,” she said.
Also present were Dr Norliza Mohammed acting principle director, Oral Health Programme, Health Ministry, Datuk Dr Christina Rundi Sabah Health Director and Dr James Chhoa, MDA Eastern Zone Chairman.