Dental Health Awareness Week 2005 officially opened in Anguilla on Monday, November 6, with a ceremony outside the Dental Unit aimed at impressing upon the general public the theme: “Good Oral Health – It’s In Your Hands.”

Dental surgeons and other staff

Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Health Authority, Meridith Gumbs, warned that occasionally persons experience dental caries, periodontal diseases, cleft lip and cleft palate. She noted that these result in needless pain and suffering, difficulty in speaking, chewing and swallowing and, quite often, in loss of self-esteem.

She pointed out that in addition to increasing the cost of health care, poor oral health also results in decreased economic productivity because of the reduction in time persons spend at work. It also reduces the time children spend in school, thus adversely affecting their studies. She praised the persistent efforts of the Dental Unit staff for ensuring that the public is well informed and educated about the importance of good oral health and the consequences of oral diseases.

Susan Rogers awarding Doreen James

“We are confident that as the Unit endeavours to complete its programmes of activity planned for this very significant week, it will achieve the vital objective of informing most of our people that oral health services – preventive and restorative – are available and accessible to all,” Mrs. Gumbs said.”

“It is demonstrably clear to me from my observations, thus far, that oral health care is extremely critical to our overall health and well-being and should no be neglected,” she went on. “Regular dental visits provide an opportunity for the early diagnosis, prevention and treatment of oral and craniofacial diseases and conditions for persons of all ages. They also allow for the assessment of self-care practices…
“It should be obvious to us by now that the Dental Unit’s increased focus on good oral health holds much potential for improvements in the quality of life for individuals and communities. If initiatives, partnerships and collaboration flourish in this environment of heightened interest, then oral health literacy will increase and access to preventive and restorative services will improve. In addition, surveillance of oral diseases or conditions will be enhanced and appropriate research will explore new ways of improving oral health for everyone in Anguilla.”

An overview of the services of the Dental Unit was given by Senior Dental Surgeon, Dr. Cullen Mussington, the full text of which appears elsewhere in this edition of The Anguillian.

Pattison Harrigan with colleagues

Speaking at the ceremony, Chairperson of the Health Authority, Dr. Phyllis Fleming-Banks, congratulated the dental team for continuing to highlight the importance of oral health and for continuing the hard work and dedication to assist in maintaining the dental health of the people of the island.
“I believe that the general public also appreciates your efforts and professionalism as reflected in the recent patient satisfaction survey conducted by the Statistics Unit,” she said. “On behalf all the directors of the Health Authority, we thank you for this continuing role. We hope that your efforts during this week, and your continuing programmes, will help each of us to make positive changes to ensure our own oral health.
She quoted the Surgeon General in the United States as describing the extent of dental and oral diseases in the first comprehensive study of oral health there in 2001. She said a more recent study pointed to dental care as the most prevalent on-met need of American children. She observed that two recent reports by Dr. Mussington had also indicated that like many other issues Anguilla was part of this global epidemic.

Health Authority personnel and others

“Our own Dr. Mussington, in raising the alarm, warned that some of our current lifestyles and neglect of oral health are resulting in an increase in chronic oral diseases,” she stated. Dr. Fleming-Banks said that unless steps were taken to control the oral epidemic it would show ‘that our oral health, and even our overall health, will be severely damaged.
“The education programme and all the information tell us that good oral health is in our hands. I hope we can really spread this word and start to change our own pattern and follow the dentist’s instructions,” she added.
Minister of Social Development, Evans Rogers, who declared open the week of activities, joined in commending the staff of the Dental Unit for their hard work, dedication and time-consuming efforts in organising the events to make the public more aware of the importance of good dental hygiene.
“The Government of Anguilla also recognises the importance of good dental health and is therefore working with the Health Authority to provision of dental health,” he continued. “The Government has ensured that the fees charged by this Unit are affordable, thus ensuring services are accessible to all Anguillians and residents. Government continues to pay special attention to our children. We believe that if we provide our children with the dental care now, that they will have fewer dental problems later on life.
“We are also aware that poor dental health affects the quality of life, resulting in infections, discomfort, eating and sleeping disorders and often lead to absence from school which would obviously affect the learning of our children. Bearing this in mind, Government continues to pay dental fees for resident children under the age of 16.
Mr. Rogers encouraged members of the public to take advantage of the services provided by the Dental Unit.
Earlier during the ceremony, plaques were presented to two former employees at the Dental Unit. The first was Doreen James who served as Senior Dental Therapist before her recent transfer to the post as Health Educator in the Department of Primary Health Care. The other awardee was Paterson Harrigan who has relinquished his post as Dental Surgeon Assistant to pursue studies for his doctorate in Dental Surgery. He has served at the Dental Unit for some three and a half years.

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