Professional body on a mission to keep dentists in SA

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SA has about 5500 registered dentists, but as few as 3500 practise in SA, the CEO of the South African Dental Association, Maretha Smit, said recently. SA could learn a lot from Brazil, whose dental sector is a leader among developing countries, she said. "Brazil looks after its dentists. They have equipment. The dentists per capita in Brazil is six times that of SA," said Ms Smit.

The dental association was spreading awareness over the need to maintain good oral health and getting the government to intervene in how medical aid scheme payouts are distributed.

"The one problem is that South Africans do not recognise the need to have regular checkups at dentists. They must realise that dentists can perform a good general health diagnostic, just by looking inside a person's mouth," she said.

"The other problem is that medical aid contributions that go to dentists have shrunk over the last decade, which means dentists could look elsewhere for work."

Ms Smit said the association would emphasise the importance of oral health to get more people to visit their dentists.

"We can do this by highlighting certain health conditions. Human papillomavirus can cause throat cancer. Several oral sex partners can increase the risk of picking up the virus," she said.

Prof Yusuf Osman - a member of the Health Professions Council of SA's medical and dental board - said on Tuesday SA's dentists were not looking to rush to Brazil and were renowned globally for their expertise.

He said the University of the Western Cape had more than 500 applications for 90 places in the first year of dentistry studies this year, implying there was still a great demand for the profession.

"Previously patients waited four to five months for an appointment but now services are more readily accessible," he said.

Source: Business Day