To mark its sixth year anniversary, Sai Prema Foundation opened a dental clinic at its Sanjeevani Medical Centre in Nasese, Suva on Friday.

Sanjeevani Medical Centre director, Dr Krupali Tappoo, said the dental clinic can be accessed by children from all different backgrounds for free.

Dr Tappoo said its aim was to provide quality oral health education, examination, extraction, conservative treatment and tooth brushing drills for small children.

She said it was important to have a clinic as such because studies have shown that children with congenital heart defects suffer poor oral health compared with healthy heart children.

“In the span of six years, we are happy to now offer dental services for children at our medical centre,” she said.

“As the Sai Prema Foundation and Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital has a focus on congenital heart defects, this makes the new dental centre even more important.

“Children with congenital heart disease are at risk of bacterial endocarditis, an infection of the tissue that lines the heart and blood vessels.

“Studies have shown that children with coronary heart disease suffer poor oral health compared with heart health children.

“This is most likely related to a combination of abnormal dental formation associated with the cardiac conditions and dental neglect.

“Therefore, all children will who are selected for surgery for congenital heart defects will undergo an immediate dental check-up,” she said.

Fiji National University acting vice chancellor Dr William May said while the foundation would be responsible for the running of the dental centre, Fiji National University will provide staffing at the centre.

“In January last year the Sai Prema Foundation and the university signed a memorandum of understanding to foster cooperation, understanding, strategic alliance and partnership to serve the people and make a difference in multiple ways,” Dr May said.

“Through this partnership, our College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences’ dental faculty and trainee dental students are to provide high-quality dental treatment and oral health services to the children of Fiji completely free of cost.

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