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National and county governments have been asked to hire more dentists to deal with rising cases of oral health challenges. 

The call by the Dentists Association of Kenya (DAK) comes even as it revealed the country has less than 1,000 registered dentists, which has adversely affected efforts to deal with oral diseases. 

According to the association, the numbers are too low compared to the World Health Organisation recommendation of one dentist for every 7,000 patients. 

This emerged during the Association’s 39th Annual Scientific Conference in Lake Naivasha Resort where it emerged that cases of oral diseases were on rise. 

DAK chairman Dr Tim Theuri (pictured) said that they were pushing for the employment of more dentists as the current situation was wanting noting that oral diseases were on the rise because of change in diet. 

Addressing the participants, he admitted that technology was the way to go to address the oral burden caused by staff shortage.  “We are working closely with the community to improve disease surveillance and give them tools for proper dental screening,” he said. 

Nakuru Health  nominee Dr Samuel Mwaura noted that the country had 876 registered dentists, a figure he termed as too low. 

He added that out of the number, 172 were specialised dentists spread across the country with Nakuru hosting five only. 

“Oral health care is very critical but unfortunately the government has not invested in dentists, meaning more suffering for our people,” he said.