Dentist
You protect oral health – and poor oral health is one of Africa's most neglected health challenges.
What this life looks like
Oral health is a window to overall health – dental infections can spread to the brain or heart, gum disease is linked to diabetes and heart disease, and oral pain is one of the most disabling conditions in the world. Yet oral healthcare is one of the most neglected components of healthcare across Africa. There are approximately 3 to 4 dentists per 100,000 people across sub-Saharan Africa – compared to 50 to 100 per 100,000 in high-income countries. This means that the majority of Africans who suffer from tooth decay, gum disease, oral infections, and oral cancer have no access to care. As a Dentist you diagnose and treat diseases of the mouth, teeth, and gums, prevent dental disease through education and early intervention, manage dental pain and infection, perform restorations, extractions, and dental surgery, provide prosthetic replacements, and in specialist roles diagnose and treat more complex oral and maxillofacial conditions. It is a career that combines clinical skill with entrepreneurial opportunity – many dentists own their own practices – and that addresses one of Africa's most invisible but widespread health needs.
What she actually does
A Dentist examines teeth and gums, diagnoses dental and oral conditions, fills cavities, performs extractions, conducts root canal treatments, provides crowns and bridges, fits dentures and dental prosthetics, treats gum disease, screens for oral cancer, provides preventive care including scaling and fluoride treatment, and delivers dental health education. Specialist dentists including oral surgeons, orthodontists, and periodontists manage more complex conditions.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| Government dental clinics in hospitals and primary care facilities | Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) (Nigeria), Kenyatta National Hospital (Kenya), Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (South Africa) |
| Private dental practices which can be highly viable in urban areas | Family Dental Care Group (South Africa), Crestview Dental Clinic (Nigeria), Aga Khan University Hospital Dental Clinic (Kenya) |
| Dental hospitals at teaching institutions | University of the Western Cape (UWC) Faculty of Dentistry, University of Ibadan Dental Clinic (Nigeria), Makerere University School of Dentistry (Uganda) |
| School dental programmes | Pepsodent/Unilever School Outreach (Nigeria/Ghana), Fit for School (various African regions), School Dental Health Services (Western Cape, South Africa) |
| Military dental services | Area Military Health Unit (AMHU) (Gauteng, South Africa), Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Dental Clinics, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Memorial Hospital |
| NGO dental outreach programmes | Dentalcare Foundation (Nigeria), Dentaid (Uganda/Malawi), Mercy Ships (various West African ports) |
Why it matters in Africa
Dental caries – tooth decay – is the most prevalent disease in the world. In Africa it is compounded by limited access to fluoridated water and toothpaste, high sugar consumption, and near-total absence of dental services in rural areas. Oral infections that would be treated routinely in other parts of the world can become life-threatening in Africa when untreated because dental care is inaccessible. Oral cancers, including cancers linked to tobacco use and HPV infection, are rising and frequently diagnosed at advanced stages. The shortage of dentists is so severe that dentists who open practices in underserved areas are immediately overwhelmed with need.
Your pathway in
Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics at secondary school. You then complete a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree, typically five years, at dental schools including the University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, the University of Nairobi, the University of Ghana, or the University of the Western Cape. After graduation you register with your national dental council and can practise. Postgraduate specialist training in oral surgery, orthodontics, paediatric dentistry, periodontics, or prosthodontics takes a further three to four years.
Skills you will need
Technical: Dental examination, caries diagnosis, restorative dentistry, extraction technique, periodontal treatment, root canal therapy, prosthodontics, and oral surgical skills. Human: The ability to put anxious patients at ease – dental anxiety is extremely common and can prevent people from seeking care they need – manual dexterity in a small and difficult working environment, attention to detail, and for those who own their own practices strong business management skills. Digital tools: Digital dental X-ray and imaging systems, dental charting software, CAD/CAM systems for digital prosthetics, and practice management software.
A woman in this field
Prof. Sudeshni Naidoo
South Africa
South African dentist, oral health researcher, and an Emeritus Professor at the University of the Western Cape where she has led work on dental public health, oral health equity, and the social determinants of oral health. She has contributed to national and international oral health policy and has advocated consistently for oral health to be integrated into primary healthcare across Africa.
Take your first step
Visit a dentist if you have not done so recently – and pay attention to everything the dentist does during your appointment, not just to your own discomfort. Dentistry combines medicine with practical craftsmanship and observing it in action is the best possible introduction. Biology and Chemistry are your most important school subjects. Look at the African region of the International Association for Dental Research to understand dental research priorities in Africa. If community dental outreach programmes exist in your area, volunteer – these give you exposure to oral health needs at a population level.
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