Poor Dental Health A Pressing Concern Among Children In Qatar

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Poor dental health is one of the most pressing concerns for health experts in Qatar, with studies suggesting that a large proportion of children suffer with decay.

According to research carried out by Dr Mohamed Sultan-al-Darwish, a consultant from the Prosthodontics department of the Al Wakra Hospital, the proportion of children suffering from dental decay is worryingly high, with up to 85 per cent of children showing some sign of cavities.

Dr al-Darwish conducted the research, which involved 2,113 students from sixteen schools, with the help of four dentists and six dental assistants, who also had training in data entry. Dr al-Darwish found that 85 per cent of the children, who attended government and private schools, showed signs of dental decay; he was awarded a PhD from the University of Gloucestershire for his study.

Dr al-Darwish said that the results were much higher than the recommended figures from the World Health Organisation and called for measures to be introduced to boost standards of oral health and reduce the prevalence of decay among children in Qatar.

Dr al-Darwish said that there was a lack of awareness about oral hygiene and preventative dental measures among parents and children and this was undoubtedly contributing to high levels of decay. The study also highlighted the impact of lifestyle habits and choices, as many children admitted to spending more than two hours using the Internet and watching television each day. Dietary habits are also a concern, as studies show that children are consuming more sugar than ever before.

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