Oral health services are costly and out of reach for many Kenyans even as the severity of oral diseases rises in the country.
Although data on oral health in Kenya is scant, experts say only one out of 10 Kenyans has a dental health insurance cover, with only a few forced go for checkups when the situation i severe.
According to the Kenya National Oral Health Strategic Plan 2022-2026 of the Ministry of Health, all adults in Kenya have at least one dental problem requiring medical attention.
However, only a small proportion of Kenyans seek dental treatment, primarily when they have tooth pain or discomfort.
The MoH attributes this to a lack of awareness, financial constraints and low access due to distance to a health facility, while a small number still regard oral checkups as unimportant.
Available data from the 2015 survey shows most insurance companies in Kenya including the NHIF limit dental health coverage to Sh40,000 annually for a family with an average of four members.
"Oral health services are capital intensive but they remain under-financed nationally, at the county government level and in the individual public health facilities," Kenya Dental Association president Tim Theuri said.
The lobby signed a deal with GSK Limited, a member of the Haleon Group, to offer free checkups to 400,000 Kenyans.
He regretted that most dental equipment in public health facilities are not functional while the supply of dental consumables is erratic.
He added that severity of oral health diseases could be worse than imagined given that the District Health Information Systems (DHIS) lacks the basic minimum oral health indicators.
Kenya’s first National Oral Health Survey 2015 indicates that two out of 10 children in the country have decayed teeth while three out of every four children have bleeding gums.
Among adult Kenyans, three out of every 10 have decayed teeth and nine out of every 10 have bleeding gums.
Only two out of 10 children and seven out of 10 adults have ever had a dental checkup, against a recommendation of biannual checkups.
Dental experts lament that the massive construction of water boreholes is not accompanied by user education on water purification.
With settlements around suburbs of major cities and towns in Kenya characterised by consumption of borehole water, the burden of fluorosis (discoloured teeth) is now at four out of every 10 children against two out of every 10 adults.
To kickstart the free dental health check-up targeting 400,000 people in the coming month in commemoration of World Oral Health Day, the initiative by GSK and KDA will involve over 100 dental clinics across Kenya to offer free dental checkups for a month up to April 20.
World Oral Health Day, observed annually on March 20, serves as a global platform to raise awareness about the importance of oral hygiene and its impact on overall health.
According to Haleon Sub Saharan Africa general manager Mark Pfister, oral health is integral to overall well-being, and we believe that a united front is essential in addressing the oral health challenges faced by many Kenyans.
"By forging partnerships with dental associations and government bodies, we can implement comprehensive strategies to improve dental care accessibility and awareness," he said.
Theuri said collaborative partnerships are instrumental in propelling oral health forward through encouraging cooperation among industry players, healthcare professionals, and local communities.
This synergy fuels innovation, widens the reach of dental care, and leads to enhanced oral health results globally, he said.
With this year’s theme, ‘A happy mouth is a happy body’, Theuri encouraged Kenyans to take advantage of the opportunity.
"This can be done by fostering a culture of regular dental check-ups, adopting proper oral hygiene practices, and raising awareness about the importance of maintaining good oral health."