From one dentist in every congressional district, the existing 2,597 rural health units (RHUs) nationwide will each have a dentist and an aide under House Bill (HB) No. 9343.

Las Piñas Lone District Rep. Camille Villar, who filed the measure prior to the Congressional break on Sept. 30, said the establishment of dental units in all RHUs across the country will raise awareness on the importance of dental health care and bolster the Department of Health’s (DOH) oral health program.

It will amend Republic Act 1082, the Act Strengthening Health and Dental Services in the Rural Areas.

The dental units shall be under the supervision of the DOH.

“This proposed legislation is being pushed to strengthen the national oral health program and protect Filipinos from declining oral health, which has been exacerbated by the [Covid-19] pandemic that limited the movements of people and immobilized seeking of immediate oral health attention,” Villar said in a statement on Tuesday.

Villar noted that oral health disease has been tagged as a “silent epidemic” following initial results of the 2018 National Survey on Oral Health that showed 72 percent of Filipinos have dental caries while 43 percent have gum diseases, making tooth decay and gum diseases the two most common oral health diseases in the country.

The survey also showed that eight out of 10 children suffer from childhood caries or decaying baby teeth which, if not treated early and properly, will make children suffer in the future since they will be more susceptible to much serious periodontal diseases.

“Dental health problems also affect the quality of lives of many Filipinos due to the excruciating pain and discomfort associated with dental diseases, and often lead to skipping school or calling in sick to work,” Villar said.

Funding for the creation of the dental units shall be initially under the DOH and subsequently included in the yearly General Appropriations Act. (PNA)