The Ministry of Health and Consumption has expanded access to pediatric dental care. Now, families can request an appointment with the primary dentist for children aged 0 to 15 through the usual external channels of the Andalusian health service: the phone and ‘app’ of Salud Responde (955 54 50 60), the ClicSalud+ platform, and the ‘app’ Salud Andalucía.
This improvement is part of the update of the service portfolio of the Comprehensive Dental Health Plan of Andalusia (PISBDA), which has recently included children aged 0 to 5, with the aim of strengthening prevention and early detection of oral problems from the early years of life. The measure places special emphasis on those age groups that are priorities for oral health: children aged 2 to 3, 6, and 12.
With this initiative, the government is giving a new boost to the promotion and prevention of oral health among the pediatric population, in coordination with pediatricians, infant and adolescent nursing professionals, and nursing professionals from educational centers, who will recommend families to attend the annual check-up with the primary dentist.
The Andalusian Health Service currently has 235 dental clinics distributed throughout the community, guaranteeing accessible care within less than 30 minutes from any basic health zone. This network is being reinforced through a improvement plan that includes equipment renewal, the creation of new clinics in Primary and Hospital Care, and the incorporation of new instruments, with a total investment of 27,999,061 euros.
Furthermore, six new teams composed of a dentist and a Nursing Assistant (TCAE) have been hired to reinforce Primary Care centers with higher population ratios, as well as seven more dentists for hospital care. These additions are accompanied by specific training and updating programs.
Oral health in Andalusia
The Pediatric Dental Care Assistance (PADI) of the Andalusian Health Service (SAS) has one of the most comprehensive service portfolios in the country. For the 0 to 5 age group, it includes check-ups, assessment of dietary and hygiene habits, early detection of caries risk and minimal intervention.
For the 6 to 15 age group, it includes annual check-ups, education on hygiene and dietary advice, as well as prevention (sealants, fluoridation), caries treatment and pulp treatments in permanent teeth.
All of this is part of the Comprehensive Dental Health Plan of Andalusia (PISBDA) 2023-2027, which reflects the commitment of the Ministry of Health and Consumption to boost and strengthen oral health care in the public health system of Andalusia.
The main purpose, to reduce oral diseases in the population, aligns with the mission of the Ministry to work for the promotion and protection of the health of the population, through quality public health services, focused on efficiency and optimal use of resources, and with guarantees of accessibility, coverage equity, and user satisfaction.
In addition to the services included in the PADI, the PISBDA portfolio covers the oral health of pregnant women, patients with head and neck cancer, and people with disabilities. To access these services, these specific groups must go to the Citizen Service Unit of their reference health center.
The improvements of the PISBDA are supported by the Plan to expand the common portfolio of oral health services in the national health system, which includes funding for the different autonomous communities.
