Dental check-ups for some 600 children aged 14-15 in Armenia's Stepanavan region revealed that every child has on average five decayed teeth – due in part to the lack of state-covered dental care and drinking water which contains microelements that make teeth vulnerable to disease.

In Armenia dental treatment is free of charge for children aged six and 12 but parents of older children have to pay out of pocket for their children's teeth to be checked and treated. With high unemployment and limited income for many households, coupled with other pressing expenses, the cost of dental health care – especially when it is preventative, can be out of reach.

Through the course of a month dentists from the 'Van Med' dental clinic in Vanadzor City, Lori Region, visited schools to carry out the dental checks with the support of World Vision.

'I can't remember myself ever visiting a dentist', said Vahagn Araqelyan, 14, who was diagnosed with 17 decayed teeth.

According to Garegin Kalantaryan, Deputy Director of 'Van Med', dental clinics are located too far from many communities of the region and taking their children for check-ups is just not possible for many parents. 'In case there are any orthodontic and gum problems, one can receive treatment only in Vanadzor City, since there aren't any other specialised clinics in the region'.

During the check-ups parents are informed about the state of their children's teeth and gums and toothpaste and brushes are distributed among children to encourage them to take better care of their teeth. At the same time they are shown how to brush correctly. In addition, training is being provided to the community medical centre dentists.

Lilit Kharatyan, the dentist carrying out the dental checks, said the most common problems among the children are caries; a disease resulting in tooth decay and eventual loss, and hypoplasia or the underdevelopment of the teeth. 'It's very important that children know how to take care of their teeth. This will help prevent many dental diseases', she explained.

Varsenik Baghdasaryan, 14, who has four decayed teeth, said she has learnt many new things about dental care and how it can affect the whole body. 'I've found out that dental diseases also generate disorders in the digestive tract. That's why it's important to regularly visit a dentist', she said.

Those children diagnosed with any dental diseases will have the opportunity to receive dental treatment at the same clinic at reduced and more affordable prices.