The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has launched the ‘Beautiful Smile’ project, first of its kind in Qatar and the region, at Leabaib Health Centre. The project aims to raise awareness about oral health and reduce the rate of tooth decay of children in Qatar.
The ‘Beautiful Smile’ clinic provides counselling and support services for future mothers about oral health, screening and treatment of pregnant women’s teeth, conduct preliminary examinations on children’s teeth, provide appropriate preventive treatments and applications, as well as
specialised medical care.
Dr Mohammed al-Otaibi, doctor in charge at Leabaib Health Centre, said that the project is the first of its kind not only in Qatar, but also in the region. “There are qualified staff to implement the project including  a dentist specialising in children’s teeth. The clinic will be operational both morning and evening and appointments can be booked through the call centre 107.”
Dr Asma’a al-Khateeb, director, oral and dental health department, PHCC, pointed out that the project will be for two categories of people. The first one focuses on pregnant women about the risk of tooth decay through awareness and education and by educating the importance of proper nutrition for the mother and the baby during and after pregnancy. The second category includes children up to five years where the specialist model of care will be introduced to them under specialised dental clinics that will have paediatric dentistry specialists to provide health services to children in early period of life.
Dr al-Khateeb added that the project will be implemented in other health centres as well according to the time plan set for the project. A trial run of the project was successfully conducted for three months from October 2015 in three health centres.