The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
ZIMBABWEANS should adopt preventive strategies when dealing with oral health issues.
The call was made by Dr Farayi Shakespeare Moyana, a leading dental practitioner, and founder of the Zimbabwe Academy of Dental Nurses (ZADENU).
Dr Moyana was speaking ahead of free dental screening sessions to be held at Daniye Dental Clinic in Kuwadzana, Harare this Saturday.
The free dental screening sessions are part of belated commemorations to mark World Oral Health Day.
Each year, March 20 is dedicated to raising global awareness of the issues around oral health and the importance of oral hygiene.
But, due to the coronavirus outbreak, some of the commemorations to mark the day were either held virtually or were postponed.
“In terms of oral health care, most people do not bother until it is rather too late. Prevention is better than cure. Regular oral check-ups can save us from costly oral health procedures,” Dr Moyana said.
“Apart from saving money, regular check-ups can also save us from spending time in surgeries where such procedures as tooth extraction and root canal treatment are conducted.”
Root canal treatment, which is designed to eliminate bacteria from the infected root canal and prevent re-infection of the tooth, is a costly procedure that can go as high as US$300.
Similarly, a crown or cap that is inserted on the affected tooth, can cost as much as US$800 per tooth.
Apart from dental check-ups, free cancer, blood pressure (BP), diabetes and maternity screening will also be conducted.
The outreach programme is being supported by a number of organisations, among them the Health at Heart Foundation, Lancet Laboratories, Population Services Zimbabwe and Celebration Health.
