In Malaysia, where there is a heavily subsidized public dental service, free basic oral care services are provided in public
dental clinics to preschool and school-aged children up to the age of 17 years. Fluoride varnish is applied by dental therapists
in schools and health centers and is advocated for use in preschool children to prevent dental caries. A systematic fluoride
varnish program has been developed as an integral part of the Early Childhood Oral Healthcare program and is being tested in
four states.