MORE than half of the Isle of Man’s children have tooth decay by the age of five, according to figures released today.

The Department of Health now wants to reduce the number of young children with tooth decay and has given the Manx public its chance to make comments on how this should progress over the next five years.

Views on the subject must be received by the Department by next Monday, November 8th.

The Department of Health published a consultation document in September on the Island’s Oral Health Strategy for the next five years.

In a statement the Department said: “This consultation is very important for the future modernisation of the primary care dental services and sets the direction for the next five years in terms of preventing tooth decay.

“One of the important aims of the strategy is to introduce evidence-based measures to reduce the number of young children who experience tooth decay. This disease currently affects more than half of five year old children on the Island.”

Other priorities are:

·        access to urgent care

·        providing appropriate oral health care services for vulnerable groups

·        shifting the emphasis in existing services from repair of disease to prevention. 

The importance of self-care is stressed with key preventive messages contained within the strategy document.

Minister for Health, Mr David Anderson MHK, said “I would personally like to take this opportunity to remind you all to comment on this very important Oral Health Strategy by Monday the 8th November 2010.”

The Department welcomes comments on this strategy either by post, fax or email to:

Oral Health Strategy – Public Consultation,

Business Support Team, Department of Health.

Markwell House, Market Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RZ

E-mail: dh@gov.im • Fax: (01624) 685008 • Telephone: (01624) 685138   

Copies of the strategy document are available at www.gov.im/dhss/Consultation or hard copies are available from the Tynwald Library, Legislative Buildings, Finch Road, Douglas, Public Library’s and local authorities.

To ensure that the process is open and honest and in line with the Government’s Code of Conduct on Consultation, responses can only be accepted, if a name is provided with the response.

Also see: Are you doing everything you can to protect your children's teeth? - VIDEO