Community Oral Health in West Africa. Development of Basic Oral Care in the Republic of The Gambia

Academic dental education and dental services all over the country are hardly provided in less-developed countries. The main diseases in dentistry, caries and periodontitis, can cause severe health conditions after long periods of easy access to treatment. By then the level of social safety and economic survival of extended families can be seriously endangered. By training mid-level medical staff to become community oral health workers, acting as support personnel for basic dental care, acute oral health conditions can be treated early in time or be avoided, if preventive measures are already introduced in (pre) school days. This early sensitization to oral health can be transferred to the family setting and reach a broad population leading to further health promotion. Since 1995 eight oral health wards have been established with community oral health workers in rural areas of the Republic of The Gambia. The concept proved to be effective and can be recommended to other underprivileged areas.