THE PHILIPPINES continues to face a serious oral health challenge compared with several of its Southeast Asian neighbors.
Untreated tooth decay affects nearly three in 10 Filipinos aged five and older and major gaps remaining in access to basic dental care.
The latest comparable World Health Organization (WHO) country profile, based largely on 2019 data, estimated that 29.4 percent of Filipinos aged five and above had untreated caries or tooth decay in permanent teeth. Among Filipino children aged one to nine, 45 percent had untreated decay in their baby teeth.
Severe periodontal or gum disease affected an estimated 3.2 percent of people aged 15 and older, while 7.5 percent of Filipinos aged 20 and above were estimated to have lost all their natural teeth.
The figures put the Philippines in a difficult position within Southeast Asia, although the regional picture is hardly reassuring. WHO estimates that the Southeast Asia region had more than 900 million cases of untreated dental caries, severe periodontal disease and edentulism (total absence of teeth) in 2019. Untreated caries in permanent teeth affected an estimated 28.7 percent of people aged five and above across the region.
The Philippines’ 29.4 percent rate of untreated permanent-tooth decay was therefore slightly above the regional estimate. But comparisons among individual countries show a more complicated picture.
Vietnam recorded an estimated 28 percent prevalence of untreated permanent-tooth caries in 2019, slightly below the Philippine figure, but its severe periodontal disease rate, at 9.4 percent, was considerably higher.
Malaysia posted a lower 22.8 percent rate for untreated permanent-tooth decay, although severe periodontal disease was estimated at 9.2 percent.
Thailand’s untreated permanent-tooth caries rate was 27 percent, while severe periodontal disease reached 19.1 percent.
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Dr. Joseph D. Lim, Ed. D., is the former Associate Dean of the College of Dentistry, University of the East; former Dean, College of Dentistry, National University; Past President and Honorary Fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy; Honorary Fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists; Honorary Life Member of the Thai Association of Dental Implantology; and Founding Chairman of the Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515.
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Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI, graduated Doctor of Dental Medicine, University of the Philippines, College of Dentistry, Manila, 2011; Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management, De la Salle University, Manila, 2002; and Master of Science (MSc.) in Oral Implantology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany, 2019. He is an Associate Professor; Fellow, International Congress of Oral Implantologists; and Fellow, Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail limdentalcenter@gmail.com./PN
