1. Oral Health Challenges from Saudi Arabia Dr. Mohammad Al-Rafee General Director of Dental Services Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia

2. Outline: Demographic data Trends in dental caries Dental Services Obstacles and Challenges The way forward

3. KSA Demographic data (2012)* : Kingdom size: 2,250,000 sq. km. Population (2012): 29,195,895 0-14 years: (31.41 %) 15-64 years : (65.73 %) 65 years and over: (2.86 %) Annual growth rate : (3.19 %) Saudi: (68.4 %) Non-Saudi : (31.6%) * Source: Central Department Of Statistics & Information, KSA, 2012

4. Trends in dental caries (KSA): 1980s: - (6-9 years old): dmft (boys)= 4.14 (girls)= 3.43 - (12 years old): DMFT (boys)= 1.61 (girls)= 1.68 Source : Al-Shammery AR, Guile EE, el-Backly M. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 1990

5. Trends in dental caries (KSA): 1990s: - (6-7 years old): dmft = 4.3 - (12-13 years old): DMFT (rural)= 2.65 (urban)= 2.69 Sources : Alshammery AR, J Public Health Dent. 1999 Oral Health Survey of Saudi Arabia, 1991-1994

6. Trends in dental caries (KSA): 2000s: - (6-7 years old): dmft (Riyadh)= 6.53 (Qassem)= 6.35 - (12-13 years old): DMFT (Riyadh)= 5.06 (Qassem)= 4.53 Source : Aldosari AM, Akapata ES, Wyne A, Khan N. Study’s Final Report, March 2001

7. Trends in dental caries (KSA): 2000s: - (6-7 years old): dmft (Riyadh)= 7.34 (Al Wazzan KA, Saudi Dent. J. 2004) - (12-13 years old): DMFT (Riyadh)= 5.94 (Al Sadhan SA, Saudi Dent. J. 2006)

8. Trends in dental caries (KSA): dmft for 6-7 years old children in six regions of Saudi Arabia

9. Sugar consumption (per capita): Country Per capita sugar consumption kilogrammes - raw value (2005)* KSA32.9 (was 28.8 in 1991) *Figures above are for centrifugal sugars (cane and beet sugars) only. Source: Sugar yearbook 2005, cited in: www.whocollab.od.mah.se/expl/globalsugar.html

10. Dental Services, MOH, KSA (cont.) : Manpower (MOH only) Manpower Year 2000 2003 2005 2012 Dentists1,2551,5041,655 2524 Hygienists 160 248 257 316 Technicians 291 323 486 575 Assistants 238 630 755 1416

11. Dental Services, MOH, KSA (cont.) : Total dentists in KSA 10150 Dentist to population ratio in KSA 1: 2876

12. Strategic Plan for Dental Services in MOH for the next 10 years Target Ratio1 : 2000 Target Total Dentist No. in KSA13569 Target Dentist No. In MOH (60%) 8141 Current No. of Dentist (MOH)2524 Shortage in Dentist No. (MOH) 5617

13. Challenges

14. Nature of the problem: Dental caries – Irrevesable damages Prevention - Human behavior

15. Kingdom diversity. 1800 Km 1400 Km

16. No. Of cities and villages 245 (> 5000 inhabitants)

17. No Children per Family 4-7

18. Staff  Shortage.  Educational background.  Attitude towards prevention.  Real participation and contribution in preventive activities.

19. Decision makers THE NEGLECTED EPIDEMIC: Oral Diseases Local and International Organisations

20. Funding: (Toward prevention)

21. The way forward: More investment in prevention. Evidence-based (effective and efficient). Thinking Institutionally.

22. Water Fluoridation School Programs Seal Saudi Arabia!!

23. Thank you