PETALING JAYA: Malaysia ranks among the world’s best for low untreated decay in permanent teeth yet performs poorly in tackling dental decay among young children, according to World Health Organization (WHO) data.
WHO’s 2019 Global Oral Health Status Report (GOHSR) said Malaysia had the third-lowest global rate (22.8%) of untreated decay in permanent teeth among people aged five and older, out of 194 countries. Only Suriname had a lower rate (21.86%).
However, for untreated decay in baby teeth among children aged one to nine, Malaysia’s rate jumped sharply to 44.1%, placing it 88th worldwide and in the middle of the international rankings.
Among Asean countries, Malaysia came in fourth for the lowest rates of untreated decay in children’s baby teeth, behind Myanmar, Singapore and Brunei.
One of the key risk factors highlighted in the WHO data is sugar consumption, with Malaysia recording an estimated 116.1g of per capita sugar availability per day, among the highest globally and a major contributor to oral diseases.
Denmark, ranked among the world’s top countries for low prevalence of untreated caries of baby teeth in children, offers free and universal dental care for all children.
Under its public system, municipalities are required to build dental clinics and offer basic and preventive dental services at no cost to children, often linked to the school system, so access is built‑in.
This model of universal coverage helps reduce financial barriers and supports regular check‑ ups, preventive treatments and early intervention.
In Germany, child oral health programme is part of its social‑health insurance model, giving children universal coverage for dental care.
Ireland is among the European countries with explicit oral health policy coverage for children, including preventive measures, though coverage may be age or location-specific rather than fully universal.
Globally, WHO said oral diseases affected an estimated 3.5 billion people in 2019, with three in four of those affected living in middle-income countries.
“Untreated dental caries alone impacts about 2.5 billion people worldwide, while severe periodontal disease affects around one billion, complete tooth loss 350 million, and oral cancer some 380,000 individuals,” it said.
It noted that the economic burden is also substantial, with over US$380bil (RM1,564.84bil) spent on major oral diseases annually, equivalent to about 4.8% of global direct health expenditure.
“Oral diseases continue to disproportionately affect vulnerable and disadvantaged populations, with those of lower socioeconomic status carrying a higher burden throughout the life course,” added WHO.
In 2021, the World Health Assembly passed a landmark resolution calling for oral health to be firmly embedded within the non-communicable disease agenda and for oral health care to be included under universal health coverage.
The resolution also directed the WHO to translate its Global Strategy on Oral Health into an action plan by 2023, complete with measurable targets to be achieved by 2030.
