Tackling Africa’s Oral Health Crisis: How the Africa CDC Can Strengthen Systems, Workforce, and Access

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A recent study by Foláyan et al. (2025) titled “Strengthening health systems to tackle oral diseases in Africa: Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s role” published in Frontiers in Public Health reveals that there is an acute shortage and uneven distribution of oral health professionals across the continent, with rural and low-income populations disproportionately underserved.

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Africa faces a severe shortage and unequal distribution of oral health professionals, leaving vulnerable populations underserved. – Foláyan et al. 2025

This study focuses on the growing public health challenge of oral diseases in Africa and highlights the pivotal role the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) can play in addressing it. Despite the high prevalence of oral conditions—like untreated caries, periodontal disease, oral cancers, and HIV-related lesions—oral health remains largely overlooked in national health strategies across the continent. Through a rapid review of 18 studies, the authors identified severe shortages and maldistribution of the oral health workforce, especially in rural areas. Many countries face significant gaps in dental education, infrastructure, and services. Vulnerable populations—such as women, children, people in poverty, and those in remote areas—are disproportionately affected due to systemic inequities in access and care. The paper calls for strategic integration of oral health into broader health systems and policies. Promising solutions include mobile dental units, expanded roles for mid-level providers like dental therapists, and strengthened education and retention incentives for oral health workers.

How the Study was Conducted

This study employed a rapid review methodology to assess the current state of oral health systems and workforce challenges across Africa. The researchers conducted a comprehensive literature search across multiple databases—EBSCO, PubMed, ProQuest, and ScienceDirect—using targeted keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) such as “oral health workforce”, “dental professional shortages”, “recruitment”, “retention”, and “Africa”. Out of 2,014 initially identified articles, duplicates were removed, and 1,069 studies were screened. Following a rigorous selection process, 18 studies were ultimately included based on their direct relevance to the size and distribution of the oral health workforce, retention strategies, access to care, and systemic outcomes.
The inclusion criteria covered a range of study designs, including cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, and qualitative research, all focusing on oral health professionals such as dentists, hygienists, and dental therapists. Detailed data were extracted on authorship, publication year, geographic focus, study objectives, key findings, and recommendations. By synthesizing this body of evidence, the review mapped out critical systemic gaps and highlighted strategic interventions with the potential to transform oral health care delivery across the African continent.

What the Authors Found

The authors found that there is an acute shortage and uneven distribution of oral health professionals across the continent, with rural and low-income populations disproportionately underserved. For example, in Nigeria, only 20% of dentists serve rural areas, despite the majority of the population residing there. Contributing factors include limited dental training institutions, inadequate policy frameworks, and the confinement of services to emergency care. Vulnerable groups—such as children, women, and rural dwellers—face compounded barriers due to structural inequities and cultural constraints.

Innovative interventions, including mobile dental clinics and the deployment of mid-level providers like dental therapists and hygienists, have shown promise in improving access and building local capacity. Programs such as Rwanda’s Human Resources for Health initiative demonstrate how international collaboration and localized training can address workforce deficits. The study emphasizes the need for stronger policies, better infrastructure, and the integration of oral health into broader universal health coverage (UHC) strategies to create sustainable change.

Why is this important

This study matters because it shines a spotlight on an often neglected crisis. Oral diseases affect nearly half a billion people in the WHO African Region, and they don’t just cause pain or tooth loss—they’re linked to systemic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and even complications in pregnancy. Yet, oral health remains sidelined in most national health plans.

The findings underscore how poor access, workforce shortages, and fragmented systems leave vulnerable communities—children, women, and rural families—without basic care. This isn’t just a health issue; it’s a social justice issue.

What’s powerful here is the potential for transformation. By involving the Africa CDC, the study calls for bold, system-wide integration of oral health into broader public health frameworks, including universal health coverage. It’s a chance to build resilient, community-orientated solutions that prevent disease before it starts—like mobile clinics, task-shifting, and inclusive policies.

What the Authors Recommended

• Governments should embed oral health within broader health strategies—especially universal health coverage (UHC) and non-communicable disease (NCD) frameworks—to secure dedicated funding, align policies, and strengthen infrastructure.
• Expand and improve dental education, especially for mid-level providers like therapists and hygienists. Prioritize workforce retention, rural deployment, and incentives to address shortages and urban-rural disparities.
• Invest in cost-effective models such as mobile clinics and school-based programs to improve access in underserved areas. These platforms can also provide local employment and hands-on training.
• Utilize the Africa CDC’s leadership to coordinate data-driven policies, technical support, cross-border initiatives, and promote local production of essential oral health products in line with its “New Public Health Order.”
• Develop targeted strategies for vulnerable groups—especially children, women, and rural communities—and implement robust systems for monitoring, evaluation, and stakeholder engagement across all levels of care.

In conclusion, the study by Foláyan et al. (2025) brings urgent attention to the widespread neglect of oral health across Africa and outlines a clear roadmap for change. By integrating oral health into broader health systems, investing in workforce development, and leveraging the Africa CDC’s leadership, there is a powerful opportunity to close the care gap and promote equitable access for all—especially the most vulnerable. Strengthening oral health is not just a medical imperative; it’s a step toward justice, resilience, and a healthier future for the continent.