Expert warns of worsening childhood oral health crisis in Nigeria 

…as sugar consumption, specialist shortage rise

Consultant Paediatric Dentist at Pedodent Dental Clinic, Abuja, Dr Jerome Mafeni, has called for an urgent overhaul of paediatric dental care in Nigeria, warning that rising cases of childhood tooth decay, changing lifestyles and a severe shortage of specialists threaten the oral health of millions of children.

Speaking at the 8th Biennial Conference and Scientific Session of the Nigerian Association of Paediatric Dentistry (NAPD) in Ibadan, Oyo State, Mafeni said embracing artificial intelligence (AI), digital dentistry, preventive healthcare, and innovative service delivery has become imperative to prepare the profession for emerging challenges.

Delivering the guest lecture titled “Advancing Paediatric Dental Care in a Changing World” at the conference themed “Smiles for the Future: Advancing Paediatric Dental Care in a Changing World,” Mafeni said dentistry must evolve in response to changing disease patterns, technological advancements, and growing parental expectations.

According to him, today’s parents increasingly arrive at dental clinics after consulting the internet and AI platforms about their children’s dental conditions, making effective communication and professional competence more critical than ever.

He explained that AI-assisted diagnostics, digital scanners, Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), teledentistry, virtual reality and regenerative dentistry are rapidly transforming paediatric dental practice worldwide.

Mafeni warned that changing dietary habits, particularly the widespread consumption of sugary foods and ultra-processed beverages from infancy, have contributed to an alarming rise in early childhood caries.

“Children are introduced to sugar from a very early age. Their snacks, drinks and processed foods are loaded with sugar, and we are now witnessing an epidemic of childhood dental caries,” he said.

He also linked the growing incidence of orthodontic problems among children to softer diets, explaining that reduced chewing activity limits jaw development, leaving inadequate space for permanent teeth.

The paediatric dentist urged dental schools and healthcare institutions to invest in modern equipment, stressing that future practitioners cannot be trained with outdated technologies.

“Training students requires investment. We cannot prepare tomorrow’s dentists using yesterday’s technology,” he said.

While advocating greater adoption of minimally invasive treatment methods such as silver diamine fluoride, laser dentistry and regenerative therapies, Mafeni maintained that prevention remains the most effective strategy for reducing childhood oral diseases.

He called for stronger public education on healthy diets, oral hygiene and regular dental visits, insisting that parents should be empowered with accurate information rather than blamed for poor oral health outcomes among children.

The consultant also advocated for child-friendly dental clinics equipped with modern behavioural management tools, including virtual reality systems, to reduce fear and improve children’s treatment experiences.

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Mafeni urged governments, universities, healthcare institutions, and professional associations to invest in technology, prevention and workforce development to ensure that every Nigerian child has access to quality oral healthcare.

Also speaking, President of the Nigerian Dental Association (NDA), Dr Elias Martins, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to improving child oral healthcare and called for stronger collaboration among dental professionals, policymakers, and other stakeholders to safeguard children’s oral health.

Martins, who was represented by Dr Adesola Odofin, said protecting children’s oral health is essential to securing the nation’s future, adding that the NDA would continue to champion child oral health through advocacy, policy engagement and nationwide awareness campaigns.

He noted that the association has prioritised universal access to oral healthcare for children through initiatives such as World Oral Health Day, Talk to a Dentist, Pepsodent Oral Health for Schools and Colgate Impact Oral Health, which reached more than five million children last year.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Juwon Arotiba, also called on dental professionals to embrace innovation, technology and interdisciplinary collaboration to improve paediatric oral healthcare and ensure every Nigerian child has access to quality dental services.

Arotiba stressed the need for greater investment in modern diagnostic technologies, continuous professional education, and community outreach programmes capable of reaching underserved populations.

He noted that dental practitioners are often among the first professionals to detect signs of child abuse during routine examinations and urged stronger collaboration among dentists, paediatricians, psychiatrists, social workers and educators to identify, report and prevent abuse while promoting children’s safety and well-being.

According to him, dentistry is not only about treating teeth but also about protecting children’s dignity, trust and overall welfare.

Chairperson of the opening ceremony, Prof. Gbemi Oke, urged paediatric dental professionals to strengthen collaboration, prioritise preventive care and leverage interdisciplinary partnerships to improve oral healthcare outcomes for Nigerian children.

Oke stressed that oral health is fundamental to overall health, warning that neglecting diseases of the mouth can have serious consequences for general well-being. She described paediatric dentists as uniquely positioned to shape healthy habits from childhood through their compassionate and patient-centred approach.

She also underscored the importance of recognising and celebrating healthcare professionals, saying that such recognition could help address the growing challenge of brain drain in the health sector.

Earlier, the Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee of the conference, Dr Omobola Olanloye, said the conference theme underscores the need for practitioners to adapt to technological advancements, changing disease patterns, emerging evidence and evolving patient expectations while strengthening efforts to deliver quality care.

Olanloye urged members of the association to uphold the values of excellence, mentorship, collaboration and innovation, expressing optimism that the conference would inspire fresh ideas, stronger partnerships and renewed commitment to ensuring every Nigerian child enjoys a healthy smile and a brighter future.