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Project news. "My Pretty Smile". July 2006

“My Pretty Smile” Project Environmental and Public Health in Regions of the Aluminum Complex Presence Program

Oral Hygiene Room was opened under the My Pretty Smile Project in Kindergarten # 4 in Nadvoitsy settlement in the Republic of Karelia. Medical attendant Y. Morgun took an advanced training course at Moscow State Medial Dental University in the spring of 2006

In January 2006, the project “My Pretty Smile” aimed at improving dental health among preschoolers and elementary school students was launched in Nadvoitsy settlement (Segezhsky Raion, Republic of Karelia). Detailed dental examinations of children of 3-14 years old living in this settlement conducted by a group of leading Russia’s dental specialists showed a high level of incidence and intensity of dental diseases.  Temporary teeth caries was found in 80% of six-year-olds and this figure grew with age, reaching 91% in children of 13-14 years old.

When asked how many times teeth should be brushed, the children gave correct answers, but an examination has proved that in reality hardly anyone was following the obvious rules. There was no question of teeth being brushed twice a day, perhaps, twice a week or even twice a month. As a result, by the age of 14, Nadvoitsy children have an average of 3.8 teeth being affected by caries (in Moscow this figure is 3).

Among the main reasons of this situation was the low level of public education in the sphere of dental health, a lack of a motivation to maintain healthy teeth, as well as the low level of child dental services in Nadvoitsy settlement.

The project is being implemented by the Segezhskaya Central District Hospital with assistance from Russia’s leading specialists in the sphere of dental disease prevention. Prof. Kuzmina from the Moscow Medical Dental University is the scientific supervisor of the project.

The Boldyrevs family was glad to make use of the opportunity offered by the My Pretty Smile Project to undergo a teeth examination and treatment with the use of the most advanced methods and materials. Dentist Y.Lesina (in the background) and medical attendant N.Morgun (in the foreground) receive patients in June 2006 in Nadvoitsy settlement in the Republic of Karelia

Under this project, three “oral hygiene rooms” will be opened, as well as a permanent dental office “My Pretty Smile”; dental disease prevention and treatment services will be provided to 750 children; and 750 children and 750 parents will be educated in dental care techniques.

One of the goals of this project is to teach children to take care of their teeth on a permanent basis; and to increase awareness about this issue among parents and the public.

Under this project, two dentists from Nadvoitsy settlement were invited by the Dental Disease Prevention Faculty to take an advanced training course at Moscow State Medial Dental University from February 13 to March 10. After becoming acquainted with modern methods, these two specialists from Segezhskaya Central District Hospital organize effective dental disease prevention and treatment for the children of Nadvoitsy settlement.

The planned activities of the project were complemented by Colgate-Palmolive Company, which decided to provide support in the course of 2 years and to supply 1/3 of the required amount of toothpaste and toothbrushes. The company also donated materials and supplies for designing special dental disease prevention rooms in Nadvoitsy settlement.

In April 2006, a conference was held in Nadvoitsy that actually became a presentation of the about to be launched project “My Pretty Smile”.
The main session of the Conference was held at the local elementary school hall and was attended, apart from its organizers and community members (parents and employees of the factory), by representative of the SUAL-Holding Management Company, Nadvoitsy Aluminum Factory, the Fund “Sustainable Development”, the district and settlement administrations, and environmental organizations, including the Karelia Green Association.