GERMAN AND TANZANIAN DENTAL SPECIALISTS FIND ONE-THIRD OF NDURUMA PUPILS SUFFER FROM ORAL HEALTH PROBLEMS

GERMAN AND TANZANIAN DENTAL SPECIALISTS FIND ONE-THIRD OF NDURUMA PUPILS SUFFER FROM ORAL HEALTH PROBLEMS

By Joseph Ngilisho | ARUMERU

A TEAM of dental specialists led by German oral health expert Dr. Ursula Suessbier, working alongside Tanzanian specialist Dr. Ibrahim Kassambala and dentists from the Arusha District Council, has found that nearly one-third of the 546 pupils at Nduruma Primary School in Arumeru District are suffering from various oral health conditions, including tooth decay, gum disease, malocclusion and dental fluorosis.

The findings emerged during a screening exercise conducted as part of a seven-day oral health outreach programme organized by the NEPT Foundation in collaboration with dental specialists from Tanzania and Germany. The initiative follows efforts by Arumeru West Member of Parliament, Dr. Johannes Lukumay, to bring specialized dental services to residents of the constituency.

Speaking after the screening at Nduruma Primary School, oral and maxillofacial specialist Dr. Ibrahim Kassambala said the outreach team comprises experts from the Mbeya University of Science and Technology (MUST), the University of Dar es Salaam, Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital, the Arusha Regional Health Team, and specialists from Germany.

He said the programme is designed to improve oral health among different groups in the community by providing free oral health education, screening and treatment in primary schools, rehabilitation centres for people recovering from substance abuse, orphanages, and medical outreach camps to be held in Seliani and Ngaramtoni.

"We have provided oral health education to pupils, teaching them proper oral hygiene practices to prevent tooth decay, gum disease and other oral health conditions. After the education sessions, we conducted comprehensive oral examinations," Dr. Kassambala said.

According to him, the screening revealed that many children have untreated dental caries caused by tooth decay, while others suffer from gum disease characterized by bleeding gums. The team also identified pupils with malocclusion and dental fluorosis.

Dr. Kassambala urged parents to take their children for routine dental check-ups at least twice a year, even when they are not experiencing pain, noting that early diagnosis enables timely treatment before conditions become severe.

He also advised parents to ensure that children brush their teeth twice daily—every morning and before bedtime—using fluoride toothpaste, reduce the consumption of sugary foods such as sweets, biscuits and ice cream, and provide quality toothbrushes and toothpaste.

As part of the oral health promotion campaign, the team distributed Colgate toothbrushes and toothpaste free of charge to all pupils.

Dr. Kassambala said children diagnosed with serious conditions requiring immediate treatment have already been identified and will begin receiving care on Thursday and Friday after parental consent is obtained through the school administration.

He added that because of the large number of children requiring treatment, not all of them will be attended to during the first phase of the outreach programme. Those who are not treated immediately will receive services during subsequent medical camps scheduled in the coming months.

Regarding children diagnosed with malocclusion, Dr. Kassambala said they will be referred to specialized dental clinics in Arusha Region for long-term management, explaining that the condition may result from hereditary factors or habits such as thumb-sucking and chewing hard non-food objects.

He noted that orthodontic treatment requires prolonged follow-up and substantial financial resources. Consequently, the outreach programme is primarily focused on screening, counselling and linking parents with local dental professionals for continued care.

According to Dr. Kassambala, nearly one-third of the approximately 500 pupils examined at Nduruma Primary School were found to have oral health problems, underscoring the urgent need for greater investment in preventive oral health education, early diagnosis and accessible dental care services for primary school children.

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