Oral health in Africa: a neglected public health priority

Abstract

Oral health in Africa is a significantly neglected public health priority, impacting approximately 480 million people (43.7% of the WHO African region population). Despite its critical link to general well-being and other Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), the continent faces a high burden of conditions like untreated dental caries, severe periodontal disease, and life-threatening conditions such as Noma. Key challenges include a historic lack of prioritisation in health policy and resource allocation, a critically under-resourced oral health workforce (ratio of 0.44 professionals per 10,000 people), and limited access to care, with high rates of symptomatic visits for tooth removal. Furthermore, there is a significant disparity in research output compared to other continents, reflecting a 10/90 gap in oral health research and a profound lack of longitudinal and clinical trials. Addressing this high burden and low prioritisation demands urgent, evidence-based policy shifts, increased financial investment, strengthening of the workforce, and robust, African-led research to meet global commitments like the WHA 2022 resolution and SDG 3.