This year, the municipal government plans to undertake some practical work for the masses, including providing free dental implant services for toothless senior citizens under minimum living guarantee and aged over 60.
As measured with standards in developed countries, the senior citizens aged over 80 shall have at least 20 teeth for chewing in their mouth cavity to make sure their basic need for food chewing. In contrast, oral health of the senior citizens in Beijing is worrisome. Surveys indicate that oral health problem of the senior citizens has become more and more serious in Beijing. Many senior citizens have loosened teeth and remnant roots in their mouths, some even toothless mouth-wide. An averagely one has not more than 10 teeth which truly function for chewing. Oral health concerns longevity for the senior citizens. Damage or loss of teeth may not only result in aesthetic problems for the senior citizens, but also affect their digestive function. Those who have suffered from damage or loss of teeth shall go to the dentist as soon as possible.
From June 15 this year on, Beijing Government first launches the programme “Free Dental Implant Services for Toothless Senior Citizens under Minimum Living Guarantee” to help those who can not afford dental bills.
Beijing Municipal Health Bureau and Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau are jointly responsible for this year’s free dental implant services. Eighteen Civil Affairs Departments of districts, counties, towns in Beijing carry out publicity to household under minimum living guarantee that complies with the conditions in its jurisdiction. Any senior citizen under minimum living guarantee aged over 60 (born before December 31, 1949) who is eligible for enjoying free dental implant services may take his or her ID card, Certificate of Subsidies Collection for Beijing Urban Residents under Minimum Living Guarantee or Certificate of Subsidies Collection for Beijing Rural Residents under Minimum Living Guarantee (incl. Certificate of Subsistence Allowance Collection for Beijing Urban Residents) to his or her nearest community service centers for screening and registration during June 15 - September 15, and then they can go to the designated hospitals of the districts or counties and dental prevention stations to make an appointment for dental implant. For those who are not eligible for enjoying the services or those whose dental conditions defy regular treatments, the doctors will patiently give reasonable explanations to them. The programme is expected to be completed until the end of November 2009.
To ensure quality, Beijing Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing University Hospital of Stomatology, and the Department of Stomatology of People’s Liberation Army General Hospital will undertake services such as professional guidance, consultation and transfer treatment. Beijing Municipal Health Bureau requests the nominated medical institutes to selectively designate medical staff empowered with strong responsibility, skillful technique and good attitude to provide quality service for the senior citizens. For more information, please visit the website of Beijing Public Health Information Center or the website of Beijing Dental Clinic or call 12320 for inquiries.