Africa faces growing oral health crisis

Chronic shortage of dental professionals leaves millions vulnerable as WHO calls for urgent action

BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo  (MNTV) – Africa is grappling with a severe shortage of oral health workers amid a rising burden of preventable dental diseases, according to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO). 

The WHO Africa regional fact sheet on oral health, released on Tuesday, highlights critical workforce gaps, warning that millions across the continent are being left without access to essential oral healthcare.

According to the WHO, Africa has witnessed the fastest-growing burden of oral diseases — including dental caries, gum diseases, and tooth loss — over the past three decades. 

In 2021, around 42% of the African population suffered from untreated oral conditions. Yet, the continent continues to experience chronic underinvestment in oral health, both financially and in training sufficient healthcare workers.

Oral health has long been treated separately from general healthcare in many African countries, exacerbating the situation through isolated management approaches, limited funding, and competition for scarce resources. 

Although the region boasts more than 4,000 health training institutions, only 84 dental education facilities exist across 26 member states, the WHO noted.

The WHO report calls for African governments to overhaul their oral health strategies by integrating oral care into primary healthcare, boosting workforce training and retention, and adopting innovative approaches such as task-sharing with non-oral health workers.