A view of geriatric dentistry in Cameroon
Atanwo Nita, David Fray
Locked between Central and West Africa is found Cameroon, a tropical country.
Oral diseases, amongst the most common non communicable diseases, touches about 3.5 billion people in the world. The number of people in the world aged 65 or over is expected to double over the next three decades, reaching 1.6 billion in 2050, by which time they will account for one in six of the world’s population [1]. Many of the older adults face special health challenges such as degenerative, physical, mental, and cognitive diseases and are at constant risk of noncommunicable cerebral and cardiovascular diseases and communicable diseases[2];[3].
In the heart of Cameroon, the west region commonly called «the grassfields» where the lush green hills meet the vibrant communities, a dedicated group of health professionals embarked on a journey that would illuminate the often-overlooked issue of oral health among the geriatric population. The inspiration for their study emerged from a series of encounters that revealed a pressing need for awareness and intervention in this vulnerable demographic.
We, a group of passionate dentists and dental students who had returned to our hometown after years of training in urban centers for a health campaign, were struck by the stark contrast in healthcare access between urban and rural areas. During our visits to local villages, we noticed that many elderly residents struggled with oral health issues —decayed teeth, gum disease, and chronic pain—yet they rarely sought treatment. Conversations with these elders revealed a deep-seated belief that oral health was not a priority compared to other pressing health concerns, such as malaria or hypertension.
One morning, in the village center when interacting with the geriatric population, we learned about the profound impact of oral health on her quality of life. They spoke about their struggles to eat their favorite foods due to painful teeth and gums, which led to malnutrition and feelings of isolation. Their stories resonated with us, who realized that their oral health was intricately linked to their overall health and well-being.
Motivated by these experiences, we conducted surveys and interviews in the local hospital and in the community of a village seeking to understand the perceptions and attitudes of the elderly towards their oral health. They discovered that many elders believed that oral health issues were a natural part of aging, while others were unaware of the connection between poor oral hygiene and systemic diseases.
- Our findings:
- A total of 39 people were evaluated (17 men and 22 women). Patients ranged in age from 65 to 85 years, with an average age of 69.6±5.1 years.
- Many of the patients were farmers (35.9%, n=14) and 30.8% (n=12) were retired.
- Nobody who participated had insurance. No dental health insurance for all our participants meaning they will have to cover all dental treatment related costs
- 53.8% believed they were very unlikely to receive dental treatment
- 3(7.69%) out of 39 participants had a total edentulism
- 10(25.64%) of our study participants had a dental prosthesis
Our team recognized that cultural beliefs and limited access to dental care compounded these challenges. In many rural areas, there were no dental clinics, and transportation to urban centers was often prohibitively expensive. The lack of education about oral hygiene practices further exacerbated the situation.
With this wealth of data in hand, we plan to formalize their findings into a comprehensive study aimed not only to document the oral health perceptions of the geriatric population but also to advocate for targeted interventions that would improve access to dental care and education in rural communities.
As the study progressed, it became clear that the journey was not just about collecting data; it was about fostering a movement towards better health for the elderly in rural Cameroon.
In time, we hope this research gains recognition beyond the borders of Cameroon, attracting attention from global health organizations interested in addressing disparities in healthcare access for marginalized populations. The stories shared by elders became powerful testimonies that underscored the urgent need for change.
Regarding health problems in dentistry, the geriatric population are not immune to these and rather need special care.
An example of this is oral tumors which can be benign or malignant, they occur at any age and the main treatment is surgical resection. Rehabilitation after surgery is complicated and more so in low resource settings, albeit it is very important and crucial in restoring function and aesthetics
The picture below depicts a geriatric male with a large defect following several years of surgery with no rehabilitation done. This brings to light some of the needs of the geriatric population in Cameroon with the majority at this age not been active and hence not having a source of income.
SMILE ‘MEME’
A typical rural setting in Cameroon. This is from the West region. ‘Meme’ is a term used to describe a grandmother or an elderly lady.
The theme of the FDI from 2024-2026 for the World Oral health day was, “A happy mouth is a happy mind” which was a call to value and take care of our oral health. The best way to demonstrate you are proud of your mouth is through your smile.
Also, health is defined as a complete state of physical, social and mental wellbeing and not just the absence of disease or infirmities. The mental wellbeing goes in line with the oral health theme and can be achieved by having a good oral health or “happy mouth”
We can see an elderly lady in the geriatric age group with a proud smile sitting on a chopped piece of wood as a makeshift chair in front of her earth brick bungalow and her chicken behind her as well as her little garden.
With no direct access to portable water at home, with the nearest health center several kilometers away which usually offers no dental health services, it will be difficult for her to maintain an optimum oral hygiene, taking into consideration her advanced age and the difficulties to displace herself for long distances.
By evaluating the oral health needs of geriatric patients in Cameroon in our study, we can understand and propose policies which will improve oral health access of geriatric patients in Cameroon especially in rural areas, hence we will make her smile even bigger and brighter.