TEHRAN - Iranian health minister said on Friday that having oral care is an important step in the health reform plan, and it will be completed for elementary students this year (Iranian-calendar year which began on March 21, 2015 ), IRNA reported.

Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi who was making the remarks in Tafresh, a city located in Markazi Province, told reporters that all children under 14 will be provided with dental care services.
Ghazizadeh Hashemi also said that under the plan, all first graders will receive free oral examination prior to the end of school year and those detected with dental problems will be given dental services.
Fluoride therapy and other preventive dentistry will be delivered to second graders all the way to fifth graders by the end of the year as well, he added.
The health minister also added that the average risk of dental caries in Iran among both children and adults is quite high and the aim is to reduce the number by half through a five-year program.
The official explained that improving the oral health infrastructure such as expansion of dental clinics and specialized dental centers are among the Health Ministry’s plans this year.