Title: Newer ideas and methods in oral health awareness

Biography:

Muhamood Moothedath has 15years of clinical and academic experience in Preventive and Community Dentistry. He worked as the Vice Dean and Department Chair of a reputed Dental college in South India. The Passion and dedication towards the social cause made him startup First Pain& Palliative   Unit in a Dental College which he started in 2010. Presently he is working as the Head of the Department of Oral Health at College of Applied Health Sciences in Qassim University, KSA. He got the Innovative Community Dental Health Award from Indian Dental Association (IDA) further He is the founder President of his University Alumni Association (Yenepoya University Alumni Association, YUAA). He has published more than 15 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of reputed Journal of Dental research & Management. He has been recognized with Diamond Award by the University for his wide spread Community Dental Health Activities in KSA.

Abstract

Health Care systems based on Curative approach limits the share of prevention and health promotion. Health Promotion and disease prevention has not yet made an impact in many of the countries. Only <5% of the health budget is utilized for prevention of diseases in almost all countries. Oral Health education and health promotion is the key in prevention of oral diseases. Earlier health education was mainly focused on delivery of facts and health related information. Gradually, educational approaches have turned more to skill development and to addressing all aspects of health, including physical, social, emotional, and mental well-being. Life skills have been tied to specific choices such as Abstinence from tobacco and alcohol, healthy nutritional choices, keeping the mouth and body clean etc. Lectures are for knowledge, discussions are good for influencing the attitudes and role plays are important in attaining the skills. Class discussions, brainstorming sessions, role play, small group (BUZZ group), games and simulations, situation analysis and case studies, debate, storytelling were tried in our health education sessions at various settings. In our 4 years of experience in Middle East with more than 250 different programs Skill Based Health Education is proven as better for Improvement of Personal Hygiene, Oral Hygiene and   for a positive change towards a Healthy life style. There is a need for amalgamation of various newer methods in health education.