Lack of South African Dentists Putting Patients at Risk
A shortage of practising dentists in South Africa is believed to be potentially putting patients at risk of developing oral cancer. Currently there is an estimated shortage of 3500 dentists in the country.
Speaking at a press conference in Cape Town, Professor André van Zyl, of the School of Dentistry at the University of Pretoria said: “Your oral cavity is never examined unless you go to a dentist.”
The comment came as he was referring to the increased risks of South Africans developing mouth and throat cancer as a direct result of smoking cannabis and using hubbly-bubbly or hookah pipes, something very common in the country.
As dentists are at the forefront of ensuring patients are checked for oral cancers as well as other disorders, not to mention tooth decay, it is imperative patients see one regularly. But the shortage is putting everyone at risk , as many can’t either afford to see a practitioner or (and perhaps more importantly) live nowhere near one.
This last point was emphasised by the Department of Health who found that the access ratio of dentists to people is just 5.53 dentists for every 10,000 citizens.
However, many dentists are leaving South Africa not long after they qualify, which is not helping. The acting CEO and registrar of the Health Professions Council of South Africa, Dr Kgosi Letlape, said: “[there was] definitely a shortage [of dental practitioners].”
He added: “South African dentists are sought after all over the world because of the high standard of dentists in this country.”
However, while everywhere else in the world is benefiting from the high calibre of the dentists graduating from South African dental schools, South Africans themselves are not benefitting.
One reason for this is the apparent pay dentists receive, which seemingly is poor and inadequate. As such, dentists feel there is only one solution, and that is to move abroad.
Further it seems that health care in South Africa has not been perceived as that important, with dental care being well down the list of priorities. As such, the dental profession in South Africa believes this attitude at all levels of society should change and change drastically if the country as a whole isn’t to plunge into an overall health crisis.
Dr. Van Zyl though is particularly concerned with the oral cancer risk. He said: “In those who had smoked at least one joint [of cannabis] a day for five or more years, a more than 11-fold increase in the risk for developing HPV-positive cancer was seen.”
Whether the health authorities in South Africa are prepared to take note of Dr. Van Zyl and others’ concerns remains to be seen.
Tags: mouth and throat cancer, Oral cancer, Shortage of dentists, south africa