More than 1,500 people have been screened and over 500 patients have received treatment as part of a project Dharani, taken up by Institute of Public Health (IPH), Bengaluru, to ensure local oral healthcare services to rural populations.

The pilot project, which is being implemented in a primary health centre (PHC) in T. Narsipur taluk of Mysuru district and another in Kollegal taluk of Chamarajanagar district over the past one year, seeks to study how dental treatment can be integrated at PHC levels.

“By choosing one PHC in each of these two taluks for the pilot implementation, special dental health camps have been conducted once a month over the past year,” said Raveena Raveendran, research officer for Project Dharani.

“In collaboration with M.S. Ramaiah Dental College, Bengaluru, and JSS Dental College, Mysuru, till now more than 1,500 people have been screened and over 500 patients have received treatment through these camps. Essential curative treatments, such as teeth cleaning (scaling), tooth extraction, and dental filling, have been provided to the public free of cost,” she said.

More than 400 patients requiring advanced procedures have been referred to taluk or district hospitals for further treatment. “Following the completion of the pilot phase of the project, the initiative will be scaled up and expanded to all PHCs across both taluks,” she added.

A free dental check-up and treatment camp was organised at Thuraganuru PHC in T. Narsipur taluk on Tuesday in collaboration with District Health and Family Welfare Department and M.S. Ramaiah Dental College under the IPH Bengaluru’s project Dharani.

Inaugurating the camp by planting a sapling, Medical Officer of the PHC Mamata said the total population across the five villages coming under the health centre’s jurisdiction is 8,435. “This free dental check-up camp, which is being systematically organised once a month under the project, has immensely benefited the public. Free screening and treatment are available here for everyone, including schoolchildren, senior citizens, and women,” noted a statement issued by the IPH Bengaluru, quoting Dr. Mamata.

Furthermore, this project trains grassroots healthcare workers on dental care, oral hygiene, and oral and throat cancers. “This has enabled them to provide quality services at the community level, causing citizens with dental issues to visit PHCs for advice and treatment in numbers far greater than before,” Dr. Mamata said.

“Our oral health is like a mirror reflecting our overall bodily health. Just as we focus on other health conditions, we must pay greater attention to dental and oral health. In most instances, a negligent attitude toward dental problems and oral hygiene paves the way for much larger health complications,” said a statement.

As part of the project, which is also supported by ICMR, awareness regarding maintaining oral hygiene has been created among the public, with a special focus on children.

Around a hundred people availed themselves of the services at the camp held on Tuesday. “Oral hygiene kits were distributed to the children who attended the camp to encourage healthy habits,” the statement said.

The PHC Medical Officers, staff, personnel from the Institute of Public Health, ASHA workers, and the team of specialist doctors from Ramaiah Dental College, Bengaluru, were present on the occasion.