Bhubaneswar: The state government has decided that health-care facilities till the level of community health centre will have one dental unit headed by a dental surgeon.

"This is an initiative of the state government for preventive and curative services of oral diseases," said chief minister Naveen Patnaik while inaugurating the conference of the All-India Dental Association here on Friday.

More than 400 posts of dental surgeons have been created out of the state budget, he said.

Stating that good oral health is extremely important for the general well being of an individual, Naveen said: "My government has taken several steps to make oral health care accessible to the people of the state".

The chief minister said dental surgeons had been posted at early intervention centres in the districts to take care of the oral health and dental hygiene of children. Children are being screened for dental diseases and referred to the dentists for treatment.

"My government is also taking steps to increase seats for higher studies in dental science in various disciplines to ensure availability of skilled manpower in various fields of dentistry. At the SCB Dental College, treatment and reconstruction of jawbone defects is being done using latest methods of micro-vascular surgery. The college is also providing advanced treatment in conservation of teeth," he said.