Dentists are at various locations in the Central and Northern Divisions today to carry out free dental checks as COVID-19 restrictions and financial constraints made it difficult for people to visit the dentists.
This is being done to mark World Oral Health Day.
Fiji Dental Association Vice President, Doctor Leenu Maimanuku says there was a lot of accumulation of oral health problems over the last two years because of the pandemic.
She says people tend to wait until their oral health issues becomes worse and unbearable.
Dr Maimanuku says when the pandemic started and people lost employment, this became a bigger issue as many did not have the funds to pay for dental visits.
She says children did not have their teeth checked at schools by the Ministry of Health dental team because schools were closed and many were not able to buy oral hygiene products or make a visit to their dentist during the worst parts of the pandemic.
The Association says as they transition to some form of normalcy, dentists and oral health professionals are reaching out to take oral health services closer to Fijian families.
They say over 55 dental professionals have volunteered and are at Tikaram Park, Lami Town, ROC Market in Suva City, Damodar City carpark, CJS Supermarket carpark in Nabua, RB Patel Centerpoint, Newworld carpark in Valelevu, Rups Mega Complex in Nakasi and Newworld in Labasa.
