Doha, Qatar – The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has screened over 31,000 students across 152 schools, including 55 kindergartens and 97 primary schools, through its ‘Asnani’ School Oral Health Program during the 2024-2025 academic year. The campaign focused on dental screening, education, and preventive treatment.
Dr. Najat Alyafei, Manager of PHCC’s Oral Health Promotion and Prevention Department, said the findings highlight that tooth decay remains one of the most prevalent health issues among children.
The data revealed that 68 percent of kindergarten children had cavities in their baby teeth, increasing to 79 percent among primary school students. For permanent teeth in primary students, decay was found in 35 percent of cases.
Alarmingly, 62 percent of kindergarten children had untreated caries, while 29 percent of primary students had untreated decay in their permanent teeth. On average, kindergarten children had four affected baby teeth, three untreated and one filled, with very few missing.
In primary students, the average number of affected permanent teeth was less than one per child, a level considered low by World Health Organization standards, indicating gradual oral health improvement with age.
Dr. Alyafei noted a sharp increase in decay with grade level, rising from 8 percent in first grade to 59 percent in sixth grade, reflecting accumulated unhealthy dietary habits and delays in follow-up care.
She urged parents and students to actively participate in the ‘Asnani School Program’, describing it as more than an annual check-up but a crucial investment in children’s dental and overall health.
