TUESDAY, 09 NOVEMBER 2010 00:00

By Shahfizal Musa
Pix by UKM Press

KUALA LUMPUR,  9  Nov. 2010 – UKM’s Faculty of Dentistry is to focus its research in the areas of preventive dentistry for the under privileged population,  the disabled, medically compromised, the elderly and especially children.

Speaking at the 9^th International Conference of Asian Academy of Preventive Dentistry hosted for the first time by UKM at Istana hotel here today, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic and International Affairs) Prof Dato’ Ir. Dr  Hasan Basri said:

“Perhaps it is timely, we all look back at what we have achieved, the weaknesses and where our future directions will be before we move further into the Millennium.”

“I am therefore glad that this year’s platform have decided to go on a ‘reflection mode’ before deciding to move forward, ” said Prof Hassan.

More than 500 participants from 25 countries are attending the three day conference to evaluate developments in oral health in Asia and set the compass for the future direction of preventive dentistry.

Among the papers presented were Preventive Management of the Special Needs, by Professor Laurence Walsh, University of Brisbane (Australia), Challenges in Preventive Clinical Practices for Patients with Disabilities by Dr Liza Centeno (Philipines) and Oral health Promotion for the Asian Older Population, by Associate Professor Hiroshi Ogawa from Niggata University Japan.  

In conjunction with the conference UKM signed two Memoranda of Associations with two higher institutions of learning to collaborate in the field of dental health.

  
One was with the Health Sciences University of Mongolia to strengthen cooperation in the field of dental health which also involves the exchange of dental health students between the two universities.

The second MoU was signed with Global Child Dental Fund, Kings College London to promot e research in the fields of dental health and its impact on the disadvantage children in Asia.

Dental health might not be taken seriously Yet it has well documented that children that is born with a cleft lip encounter problems with their future physiological  development. So the area of Dental health and its effects on under privileged population has to be explored.

Also present at the conference and signing ceremony of are Professor Dato’ Dr Ghazali Mat Nor the Dean Faculty of Dentistry; Professor Dr Rahimah Abdul Kadir, President, Asian Academy of Preventive Dentistry UKM; Dr Bazar Amarsaikha,n Dean School of Dentistry, Health Sciences University of Mongolia and Prof Raman Bedi, Chairman of  Global Child Dental Fund, Kings College London.