Grassroots Healthcare And Public Education: Building A Defense Line For Oral Health

1. Community Outreach and Family Doctor Service Packages Promote Basic Care
Under Anhui Province's "Healthy Mouth Initiative," grassroots healthcare systems have significantly improved oral health outcomes for children and elderly populations through innovative service models and public welfare campaigns, with key initiatives and achievements outlined below:
(1)Children's Oral Health Service Packages: Cost-Effective, High-Coverage Prevention System
Community health centers in Anhui launched annual children's oral health packages priced at 20 RMB, offering comprehensive, age-specific care for children aged 0–14. Services include:
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Free Fluoride Varnish Applications: Two annual sessions using fluoride-based protectants to form a "shield" on teeth, reducing cavity risks;
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Intraoral CT Scans: Low-dose CT technology for early detection of cavities, malocclusions, and other issues, providing data for tailored treatments;
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Personalized Health Records: Digital archives tracking oral development to dynamically adjust care plans.
Achievements:
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In the first half of 2025, 442,000 children received topical fluoride treatments, covering kindergartens and lower primary grades;
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236,000 children underwent pit-and-fissure sealants, targeting first permanent molars, with a 40% increase in coverage compared to pre-initiative levels;
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Pilot regions reported an 18% decline in pediatric cavity incidence, demonstrating early intervention efficacy.
(2)"Science-Based Dental Care" Campaigns for the Elderly: Dispelling Myths
To address poor oral health awareness and improper denture use among seniors, Anhui launched public education campaigns across 200+ communities, enhancing health literacy through:
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In-Person Workshops and Demonstrations: Oral physicians taught denture cleaning, adhesive usage, and demonstrated flossing/water flosser techniques;
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Visual Guides and Videos: Distribution of 3,000+ copies of Elderly Oral Care Handbook, covering denture maintenance, gum massage, and more;
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Free Screenings and Consultations: Collaborations with grassroots clinics provided oral exams and denture repair advice, benefiting over 12,000 seniors.
Case Studies:
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A 65-year-old resident in Hefei, Mr. Zhang, resolved gum swelling caused by poor denture hygiene after learning to use cleaning tablets through the campaign, restoring chewing function;
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In a Fuyang pilot community, proper denture usage among seniors rose from 62% to 85%, with a 30% reduction in denture-related hospital visits.
2. 3D Printing Technology in Grassroots Clinics: Shorter Wait Times, Enhanced Quality

The Binhu Branch of Hefei Stomatological Hospital exemplifies digital transformation in primary care by integrating in-house 3D printing, enabling a shift from "centralized manufacturing" to "on-site customization," with breakthroughs detailed below:
(1)Process Innovation: From 2 Weeks to 48 Hours
Traditional denture fabrication involved mold-taking, off-site processing, and repeated adjustments, with wait times up to 2 weeks. The Binhu Branch streamlined this via intraoral scanners + 3D printing systems:
1. Intraoral Scanning: 5-minute capture of 3D dental data;
2. AI-Powered Design: Automated modeling with physician adjustments;
3. 3D Printing: Medical-grade resin produces single/partial dentures in under 2 hours;
4. On-Site Adjustment: Immediate fitting and bite refinement, all within 48 hours.
(2)Clinical Outcomes: Success and Satisfaction Rates Soar
President Xu Xiaobo highlighted how digital tools addressed two traditional pain points:
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Poor Fit: AI-simulated oral movements improved denture-gum adhesion by 30%, reducing food traps;
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Functional Limitations: 3D-printed dentures' occlusal surfaces aligned better with physiological structures, boosting chewing efficiency by 40%.
Data Validation:
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Success rates for complex full-denture repairs jumped from 75% to 92%, with rework rates below 5%;
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Patient satisfaction reached 95%, with "short wait times" and "comfort" as top praise;
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Daily denture output rose from 20 to 50 units, meeting grassroots demand.
(3)Technology's Equity Impact: Bridging Geographic and Resource Gaps
The Binhu Branch's model demonstrates 3D printing's grassroots value:
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Cost Reduction: Eliminating off-site processing cut single-denture costs by 40%;
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Skill Enhancement: Digital tools empowered primary physicians to handle complex cases independently;
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Tiered Care Promotion: Patients avoided urban referrals, accessing quality care locally.
Future Goals:
Anhui aims to equip 50% of county-level dental hospitals with 3D printers within three years and establish regional digital denture hubs, creating a "grassroots scanning–central printing–rapid delivery" loop to further narrow urban-rural healthcare disparities.