SSSD expands elderly dental care services

Building upon the existing complimentary dental treatment for elderly residents of the Emirate, available at the University of Sharjah's Dental Hospital, an arrangement has been made with the hospital to extend dental care services to bedridden patients within the comfort of their homes. 

The rollout of this home-based service is slated to commence in September of the current year. A specialised medical team, equipped with essential medical instruments, will visit the homes of bedridden patients to conduct examinations, administer treatments, and dispense necessary medications.

Fatima Daoud Al Mazmi, Director of the Health Services Office in the department, underscores the department's strong commitment to the welfare of senior citizens within the Emirate. They actively monitor their well-being, circumstances, and requirements, striving to provide timely assistance. This initiative represents an advancement of the medical and dental services already extended by the department to elderly residents across Sharjah, including its eastern and central regions. The programme was initiated a year ago following a resolution from the Sharjah Executive Council.

Al Mazmi noted that the count of beneficiaries for dental treatment among individuals aged 60 and above has reached 12,614 elderly citizens since the service's inauguration in June 2022. The total number of visits for various dental treatments, encompassing gum treatments, root canal therapies, dental prosthetics, oral and dental surgeries, and preventive dental care, has now reached approximately 5,259 visits.

She emphasises that all medical concerns related to this domain are managed at the Dental Hospital of the University of Sharjah. Cosmetic purposes are not covered in this context. If a patient's treatment expenses surpass 30,000 AED, it is mandatory to furnish an accredited medical report detailing the patient's condition, in order to secure approval from the committee.