Taking preventive dental care into a school setting, the Youth Dental Collective (YDC) conducted an oral health screening and awareness camp at Al Madani High School, Barkat Ali Bhatti, Matiari, where more than 1,000 male and female students received oral health screening on Sept. 5, 2026.
The community-based initiative was designed to promote early attention to oral health problems while helping school-going children understand the everyday habits that can protect their teeth, gums and overall oral health.
The large-scale screening was accompanied by an interactive oral health awareness session, giving students practical guidance rather than limiting the activity to dental examinations. The session focused on oral hygiene, proper tooth-brushing techniques, hand hygiene and the importance of maintaining good hygiene practices from an early age.
Students were also educated about common oral health problems and the importance of developing healthy habits during childhood. The emphasis on prevention was intended to encourage children to pay attention to their oral health before problems become more advanced and require more extensive care.
By bringing screening and oral health education directly to a school, YDC extended its community-based dental outreach beyond conventional clinical settings and reached a large number of children through a single preventive-care initiative.
The camp was organised by a YDC team comprising Dr. Yasir Nawaz, Founder of Youth Dental Collective; Bhawesh Kumar, Co-Founder of Youth Dental Collective; Dr. Muhammad Tahir, President of Youth Dental Collective; Jatin Kumar, Vice President of Youth Dental Collective; and Devraj Krishan, Team Management Head of Youth Dental Collective.
Dr. Ismail, an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) Consultant, participated in the camp as a mentor. Four additional volunteers also supported the activity and contributed to the delivery of the screening and awareness programme.
The involvement of dental professionals, organisational leadership and volunteers enabled the initiative to combine oral health screening with direct health education, giving students an opportunity to learn about preventive dental care while participating in the school-based activity.
For children, such awareness can be particularly important because oral hygiene practices established during the school years can influence their long-term approach to dental health. Guidance on proper brushing, personal hygiene and recognising common oral health concerns can help reinforce prevention as an essential part of maintaining healthy teeth and gums.
The initiative also reflects the broader role of community dentistry in improving access to basic oral health information and screening, particularly in educational institutions and communities where opportunities for regular dental care may be limited.
YDC said it continues to focus on taking preventive and community-based dental healthcare to underserved communities and educational institutions, with the aim of promoting awareness, encouraging prevention and contributing to healthier smiles.
The Youth Dental Collective appreciated the cooperation of the administration, teachers and students of Al Madani High School, Barkat Ali Bhatti, whose support helped facilitate the screening and awareness activities.
The Matiari camp therefore combined two complementary elements of preventive oral healthcare — identifying potential dental concerns through screening and helping children understand how daily hygiene practices can contribute to better oral health.
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