Kathmandu – World Oral Health Day, observed globally on March 20, was celebrated in Nepal through various public awareness events. Under the theme “Happy Mouth is a Happy Mind,” Kantipur Dental College Teaching Hospital & Research Center, in collaboration with Kantipur School of Dentistry, organized a special program to mark the occasion.
On Thursday morning, a rally was held to spread awareness about oral and dental health. The event also featured the launch of a Community Oral Health Program Report and a free dental check-up camp for the public.
So far, Kantipur Dental College has conducted free oral and dental health camps in over 63 districts across Nepal. In addition, the college has been providing dental health education in schools and offering orientation training to female health volunteers, teachers, parliamentarians, maternal and child health workers, and health post chiefs.
Dr. Buddhi Man Shrestha, Chairperson of the college, emphasized the need to integrate oral and dental health into the national health policy. He urged the government to bring concrete policies to expand dental health services nationwide.
“If the government supports the ongoing efforts of our college and teaching hospital, this work could be strengthened and extended nationwide. I would like to request that oral health be considered when reforming Nepal’s health policy,” he stated.
Dental health issues are widespread in Nepal, with data showing that most Nepalis lack access to proper dental care. According to the World Health Organization, oral health problems are the most common health issues globally. In Nepal, periodontal disease has become a leading cause of tooth loss in the 35–44 age group. The number of people suffering from tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer is rising every day.
Doctors also warn that poor oral health can lead to complications in heart disease, diabetes, and pregnancy. Therefore, dental check-ups should be made mandatory during antenatal care visits.
Currently, over 70% of Nepal’s population lacks access to dental services. Although 4,883 dentists are registered with the Nepal Medical Council, only about 60% are practicing within Nepal—posing a major challenge to serving the country’s 30 million people.
To address this, experts recommend that the government create dentist posts in primary health centers and assign dental hygienists to every health post across the country.
A related video was also shared as part of the awareness initiative.
