Tanzania needs to shift the focus of oral healthcare from treating advanced dental problems to prevention and early intervention, the Ministry of Health has said, as new data show a high burden of tooth decay and gum disease among adults.
Deputy Permanent Secretary in charge of Medicines and Medical Devices, Emmanuel Tayari, said investment in prevention, early diagnosis and timely treatment would help reduce the number of patients reaching stages where tooth extraction becomes necessary.
Mr Tayari made the remarks on Friday, October 2, 2026, at the launch of the Dental and Implant Centre at Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam.
“Where possible, we should put emphasis on prevention, early diagnosis and timely treatment rather than waiting until tooth extraction becomes necessary,” he said.
His remarks come against the backdrop of findings from the 2020 National Oral Health Survey, which showed that 76.5 percent of adults in Tanzania were affected by dental caries, while 62.8 percent had gum disease.
The figures highlight the scale of oral health challenges facing the country and the potential pressure on households and health facilities when conditions are allowed to progress without early intervention.
Mr Tayari said oral health should not be treated separately from general health because it affects a person's ability to eat, communicate and maintain confidence, as well as overall productivity and quality of life.
The government, he said, was implementing the National Oral Health Strategic Plan 2026–2031, which seeks to expand access to equitable, affordable and patient-centred oral healthcare.
The plan is part of wider efforts to strengthen oral health services and ensure that people can access appropriate care before dental conditions become severe.
Mr Tayari urged Tanzanians to take greater responsibility for their oral health by having regular dental check-ups, maintaining proper oral hygiene, eating a balanced diet and seeking treatment early when problems emerge.
He also said investment in modern dental facilities was important in improving the country's capacity to provide specialised services, including dental implants.
The launch of the Aga Khan Hospital centre reflects growing investment in specialised dental services, but Mr Tayari stressed that modern treatment must go hand in hand with prevention.
He called for stronger collaboration between the government, private healthcare providers and other stakeholders to improve the quality and availability of oral healthcare services.
For many patients, regular dental checks can help identify problems before they become more complicated and expensive to treat.
The ministry's emphasis on prevention therefore seeks to move oral healthcare further upstream from treating advanced disease to detecting and addressing problems early.
With the national survey showing that dental caries and gum disease remain widespread among adults, the challenge now extends beyond expanding specialised treatment facilities to ensuring that preventive oral healthcare becomes part of routine health-seeking behaviour.
The government is therefore encouraging citizens to treat dental care as part of general healthcare rather than waiting for pain or severe symptoms before seeking medical attention.