Dental Health Crisis Threatening Jamaica

The region of Jamaica is currently undergoing an unprecedented dental health crisis. The reason for this crisis, according to the Government’s dental health service is twofold:

• People either simply cannot afford proper dental health services
• Or they do not recognize the importance of a proper oral health hygiene

Dr. Irwin McKenzie, reported to The Sunday Gleaner, that there is a serious crisis going on, and likens the whole situation to that of a silent epidemic- citizens are suffering, and they are doing it in silence.

Currently, only about 15% of the population of Jamaica has access to proper health care. Out of these, only 6% has actually dental health coverage within their insurance policies, but even they can enjoy only limited access to such services.

Moreover, dental equipment is scarce, and dental health professionals and offices are scattered through the island quite disproportionately. There is a population of 2.62 million and the number of dentists does not exceed 162. That gives a ration of 1 dentist to 17,000 people. The standards say that there should be at least 1 dentist per 2.500 people.

The majority of dental health professional in Jamaica (approximately 90%) is concentrated to the big centers, such as Kingston, Spanish Town, Portmore, Montego Bay or Ocho Rios. Out of this, 70% are working in the private sector, which basically means that the common Jamaican citizen cannot afford such dental health services.

McKenzie goes on explaining, that by looking at the numbers more closely, there is a stunning revelation made. Theoretically, in Jamaica there is a ratio of 1 in 17,000, but practically there is a ratio of 1 to 53,000, considering the fact that the majority of dental health offices operate in the private sector.

Furthermore, a huge lack of access is observed. Around 80% of the population simply does not have access to proper dental care. Some cannot access it because there is no dental facility existent in their area, while others cannot access it because even though there is such a facility, there is a huge lack of proper equipment.