YDC provides oral health screening to more than 1,000 school children

MATIARI, SINDH: More than 1,000 students received oral health screening and preventive dental education at a school-based camp organised by the Youth Dental Collective (YDC) at Al Madani High School, Barkat Ali Bhatti, Matiari, on September 5.

The initiative brought dental screening and oral health education directly to the school, with the programme focusing on early attention to dental problems and helping children develop healthy oral hygiene practices.

Alongside the screening, students participated in an interactive awareness session covering proper tooth-brushing techniques, oral hygiene, hand hygiene and common oral health problems. The organisers encouraged students to establish preventive habits early and seek professional dental care when they notice concerning symptoms or abnormalities.

The school-based approach enabled the YDC team to reach a large number of children through a single community outreach activity, combining clinical screening with practical health education rather than limiting the programme to examination alone.

The camp was organised by Dr. Yasir Nawaz, Founder of Youth Dental Collective; Bhawesh Kumar, Co-Founder; Dr. Muhammad Tahir, President; Jatin Kumar, Vice President; and Devraj Krishan, Team Management Head.

Dr. Ismail, an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) Consultant, participated as a mentor, while four additional volunteers supported the screening and awareness activities.

The organisers said the initiative was part of YDC's focus on taking preventive and community-based dental healthcare to underserved communities and educational institutions.

School-based dental outreach can provide an opportunity to introduce children to oral hygiene and preventive care at an early age, particularly in communities where routine access to dental services may be limited.

The programme also highlighted the role of community dentistry in bringing basic oral health information and screening closer to children rather than relying solely on patients to seek care after dental problems develop.

YDC thanked the administration, teachers and students of Al Madani High School, Barkat Ali Bhatti, for their cooperation in facilitating the screening and awareness programme.

The Matiari outreach combined two key elements of preventive dental care — identifying potential oral health concerns through screening and equipping children with practical knowledge to protect their teeth and gums through everyday hygiene practices.