More than 10,000 teenagers and underprivileged Hongkongers have benefited from subsidised dental care programmes launched earlier this year, with about 1,500 street sleepers set to be included from next month.
The Department of Health on Wednesday said its community dental support programme would be expanded to reach more people in need and provide advanced treatments such as bridge or crown removal and denture fitting.
Since its launch in May, the scheme has provided free or affordable dental services to underprivileged groups, including recipients of the old age living allowance, benefiting more than 5,200 people as of December 10.
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A similar initiative called the primary dental co-care pilot scheme for adolescents aged 13 to 17 introduced in March had served more than 5,100 teenagers by the same date.
Under the programme for underprivileged adults, patients pay only a HK$50 (US$6.40) administrative fee to receive an oral check-up, pain-relief medication and X-ray examination every 180 days. They are also entitled to one filling or extraction at that price, for up to three teeth.
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From January 1, homeless people will also qualify for the service.
