Hong Kong Oral Health Week 2024 and other HKDA celebration activities for World Oral Health Day 2024

To echo the World Oral Health Day of FDI World Dental Federation (FDI) celebrated annually on 20 March, Hong Kong Dental Association (HKDA) has been organising a series of oral health promotion activities as follows.

A.    HK Oral Health Week 2024

Call for local dentists to offer free oral check-up to the general public during the period 9 - 14 May 2024 with wide media coverage on newspaper, social media platforms and TV news as below:

Among the activities, the highlight is the signature event titled HK Oral Health Week 2024.

This territory-wide campaign was held from 9 May to 14 May 2024 during which registered dentists in Hong Kong participated voluntarily by offering one-off free oral examinations, oral health consultations, and X-ray examinations to the public at their respective clinics.  HKDA is of great pleasure that the campaign was highly supported by the Asia Pacific Dental Federation/ Asia Pacific Regional Organization and the Chinese Stomatological Association as our Advisory Organizations and that from dental organizations, professional bodies, dental companies, community units, a total of 54 organizations and companies, as co-organizing or supporting partners of this event, as well as most of the registered dentists in Hong Kong. It has presented a valuable opportunity to enhance public awareness of primary oral healthcare, in line with the HKSAR Government’s advocacy of primary healthcare and in response to FDI Vision 2030.

(i) Press Conference (25 April 2024)

HKDA held a press conference to officially announce the “HK Oral Health Week 2024” campaign (9-14 May 2024) to the public and media on 25 April 2024, followed by a press release and promotional materials on different platforms. The Press Conference was well attended and widely reported by media, including TV news broadcast, news report in newspapers and e-channels.

(ii) Kick-off Ceremony (8 May 2024)

To mark the commencement of HK Oral Health Week 2024, HKDA held the Kick-Off Ceremony with thematic presentations by distinguished dental colleagues on 8 May 2024. HKDA is honoured to have the presence of the following officiating guests:

1.      The Hon C Y LEUNG, GBM, GBS, JP, Vice-chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference;

2.      Dr LEONG Che-hung, Edward, GBM, GBS, OBE, JP, Honorary Member of HKDA;

3.      Dr Hon David LAM Tzit-yuen, Legislative Council Member (Functional Constituency - Medical and Health Services); and

4.      Dr LEE Kin-man, JP, Chairman of Dental Council of Hong Kong.

HKDA Council Members, HKDA Past Presidents and members, co-organisers, supporting organisations/ companies of the Oral Health Week 2024 and media were present to witness the remarkable occasion.

Four lectures related to public health were held in conjunction with the Kick-off Ceremony (accredited with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points) to dental practitioners:

Lecture I: “Could periodontal status reflect individual’s susceptibility to systemic health conditions? Rationale, evidence and clinical relevance” by Professor Lijian JIN.

Lecture II: “Teamwork in Oral Health Prevention” by Dr William CHEUNG (FDI Education Committee Chairman).

Lecture III: “Caries Detection and Management” by Professor Chun Hung CHU (FDI Public Health Committee Member).

Lecture IV: “A new paradigm for the management of periodontal disease in general practice: Now and future” by Dr Stanley LAI.

The Kick-off Ceremony was widely broadcasted by TV news, reported in newspapers and e-channels, and also featured follow-up interviews by TV stations.

B. Care Your Teeth Carnival” (Co-organised by HK St John Ambulance Brigade Dental Command & HKDA

To echo with WOHD for promoting good oral health to the public, the subject event with (1) on-site dental checkup, (2) oral health talks, (3) game booths and (4) showcase of the St John’s ambulance was successfully held on 17 March 2024. With our members’ eagerness to support, they took part in delivering oral health talks catering for the oral health needs of the elderly, children and their parents, as well as performing oral check-up for the public on a voluntary basis.

C. Oral Health Education

(i) Interviews with Dentist, Doctors, Professor (Clinical) and Pharmacist (March to July 2024)

Healthcare professionals from different specialisms, including cardiology, endocrinology, diabetes & metabolism, dementia and pharmaceutics, came together to share their knowledge about the interrelationship between oral health and general health. They presented their findings in both written and video formats.

(ii) Oral Health Education Programme on Radio & Television (20 March to 24 April 2024)

HKDA and Radio Television Hong Kong (“RTHK”) jointly presented an oral health education programme (6 episodes) on the following topics:

a)      Dental Cosmetics and Restoration;

b)      Dental Health and Physical Health;

c)      Different Dental Issues and Orthodontics Methods;

d)      Dental Examination and Repairment;

e)      How to Perform Dental Implants, Bridges, and Dentures; and

f)       How to Perform Root Canal Treatment.

The first episode of the progamme was broadcast on the World Oral Health Day (“WOHD”) on 20 March. During the programme, the guest dentist not only shared about oral health information with the public but also promoted “A HAPPY MOUTH IS…A HAPPY BODY”, which is the theme of this year’s WOHD.