Saktiandi Supaat, Member of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, has launched a mobile dental care service for vulnerable seniors in the Toa Payoh East constituency. This initiative brings essential preventive dental care directly to the doorsteps of these seniors.
In an interview with Petir, Mr Saktiandi said that he decided to start the initiative after he noticed inadequate dental care among elderly residents during home visits.
“While interacting with residents, I noticed their smiles and how the condition of their teeth can be improved. Some of them have been suffering from tooth decay and pain over time without realising that their teeth have decayed badly,” he said. “We can delay or mitigate some of these situations by having a good dental programme.”
Mr Saktiandi observed that quite a number of homebound seniors suffer from untreated tooth decay, gum inflammation, and poor oral hygiene. Among residents aged 65 and above, nearly 70 per cent wear dentures due to severe tooth loss.
He noted that mobility issues and financial constraints prevent vulnerable residents from visiting dental clinics. Hence, his grassroots team partnered with Royce Dental Group to launch a bi-monthly complimentary dental programme on April 6.
Residents can receive basic dental services from a mobile dental bus that visits different locations throughout the constituency. Services include scaling and polishing, fillings, and extractions. Residents must pre-register at the community club to access these services. Patients requiring complex dental procedures will be referred to specialised clinics.
Dedicated volunteers assist in identifying residents who need this service and raise awareness about the programme.
To date, the team has conducted two sessions, providing dental care to 12 residents at each session.
“We have consulted with dentists and doctors about the importance of dental health,” Mr Saktiandi said. “Healthy teeth are crucial for seniors to maintain proper nutrition, especially their ability to eat protein-rich foods like meat. Poor oral health also increases the risk of diabetes and heart disease, which will impact their quality of life.”
The dental care service is part of Toa Payoh East’s MANGO (Meals, Assistance, Needs, Groceries and Opportunities) programme. This online portal, launched by Mr Saktiandi in 2020, consolidates all social assistance services available to residents within the constituency.
Mr Saktiandi said that the initiative has received a positive response, and he hopes that it can be sustained in the future.
