Egypt offers a multifaceted perspective on dental care, ranging from its historical roots to modern practices and emerging challenges. This article delves into various aspects of dental health in Egypt, including geriatric dentistry, ancient dental practices, affordable dental tourism, and the current state of dental education and service utilization.
Geriatric Dentistry in Egypt
Geriatric dentistry, focusing on the oral health of older adults, is an area that requires increased attention in Egypt. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), older adults are those aged 65 years or above. By 2050, more than half of the global population will be over 60 years old. The Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations (UN) reports that in 2022, there were 771 million people aged 65 years or older worldwide, and this number is expected to increase to 1.6 billion by 2050.
The majority of older adults often have multiple systemic diseases, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dementia, and kidney or liver disease. The aging process affects the oral cavity, leading to tooth loss, decreased salivary flow, and increased periodontal diseases. Therefore, dental professionals must possess specialized knowledge to address the unique medical and oral conditions commonly found in older adults.
Study on Dentists' Views on Geriatric Oral Health
An anonymous online cross-sectional study was conducted in November and December 2022, targeting dentists with varying levels of experience working in different Egyptian institutions. The study aimed to assess the respondent’s views on geriatric oral health, perceived knowledge, attitudes, and barriers. A total of 421 dentists responded to this online questionnaire.
Key findings from the study include:
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- 44.9% of the respondents were male.
- 45.0% were between 20 and 29 years old.
- 31.5% worked in more than one dental setting.
Multivariate analysis revealed several factors influencing dentists’ perceptions:
- Female sex negatively affected attitude (β = -1.72).
- A higher proportion of older patients increased perceived knowledge and positive attitude while decreasing perceived barriers.
- Years of experience increased perceived knowledge only after 5-10 years.
The study highlights the need to improve the knowledge and attitudes of young dentists towards geriatric dentistry in Egypt.
Ancient Egyptian Dentistry
What Was Dental Health Like in Ancient Egypt? l Mrİnfo
Dentistry has ancient roots in Egypt. The main contributors to oral ailments were a combination of poor diet and bad dental hygiene. This would lead to various diseases like attrition, dental caries, and periodontitis that affect the overall health of the mouth. The Egyptians, however, were very inventive and devised many practices and treatments to treat their dental issues.
Common Dental Issues in Ancient Egypt
The most common dental affliction in ancient Egypt was Attrition, caused by a diet of uncooked vegetables and a lack of necessary vitamins and minerals. Archaeologists have discovered skulls and jaws in burial shafts and tombs showing signs of the disease, which, if untreated, could lead to abscesses, inflammation of the jawbone and gums, and tooth loss.
Egyptians also had bad dental hygiene, partly due to grit and sand in their bread, which wore away their enamel. They created the world’s oldest known formula for toothpaste, crushing rock, mint, salt, pepper, and dried iris flower to create a tooth-cleaning powder, though it caused bleeding gums.
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Treatments and Practices
Egyptians used numerous mouthwashes made up of ingredients such as bran, celery, and active ingredients to combat gum disease and provide pain relief from toothache. According to many historians, dental braces date back to as far as the Egyptian period, with archaeologists discovering mummies with crude metal bands around their teeth used to move teeth. Lost teeth were reattached using silver or gold wire to neighboring teeth.
Operative dental treatment was extremely limited, mainly restricted to pharmaceutical preparations applied to gingival and mucosal tissues or used as mouthwashes to provide short-term relief.
Affordable Dental Tourism in Egypt
Combining dental care with a holiday in Egypt can be a great way to save on dental care costs. Egypt offers a reliable and cost-effective alternative to dental care in the UK, US, or Europe. Patients can save up to 70% while exploring world-famous historical landmarks and world-class resorts during their dental holiday in Egypt.
Tourism is one of the most important sectors of Egypt’s economy. Major attractions include the ancient monuments in the Nile Valley, the Pyramids, the Great Sphinx of Giza, Abu Simbel, and the Valley of the Kings. The Sinai Peninsula, with its coral reefs and beach resorts, is also a significant draw for tourists.
Dental Prices Compared to the UK
The average prices of popular dental treatments in Egypt compared to the UK are listed in the table below:
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| Treatment | UK Price (GBP) | Egypt Price (GBP) | Egypt Price (Euro) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-on-4® treatment concept | 16,000 | 2,500 | 2,920 |
| Crowns | 1,000 | 200 | 235 |
| Implant with crown | 3,500 | 450 | 525 |
| Veneers | 1,400 | 200 | 235 |
| Dentures | 1,400 | 300 | 350 |
| Root Canal | 900 | 220 | 260 |
| Whitening | 600 | 250 | 290 |
As far as quality of care, you’ll find exceptionally gifted dentists providing low-cost services throughout the country, especially in Cairo and popular tourist resorts. Dental education in Egypt is of a high standard, with most dental schools located in Cairo. Many partner dentists have obtained parts of their training in Europe and the UK.
Safety and Guarantees
Egypt has recently begun offering dental and medical tourism services to cater to the increasing needs of patients from around the world. All partner clinics provide warranties or guarantees on the work they do, as well as any lab work, such as veneers, crowns, and dentures. If you have a problem with your dental treatment, you can return to the dentist to have it fixed.
Dental Public Health Education in Egypt
Dental Public Health (DPH) education prepares future workforces to promote positive oral health behaviors, prevent oral diseases, and monitor disease distribution and trends. A survey appraised the school profile and capacity and methods of teaching and assessment in DPH courses in undergraduate dental programs.
Survey Findings
The survey received 21 (58.3%) responses from 36 deans/senior officials. Of the universities, 52.4% were private and 47.6% were public. Most participants reported that DPH courses in BDS programs were taught by Pediatric Dentistry academics (71.4%) and DPH academics (57.1%) in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th years of the 5-year BDS programs.
Teaching DPH consisted of face-to-face lectures (100%) and seminars (95.2%), and assessment included written exams with close-ended questions (95.2%) and open-ended questions (71.4%). Twenty schools reported teaching the definition of DPH, the definition of oral health, and the determinants of oral diseases.
The study showed that teaching DPH in Egyptian dental schools focused on oral epidemiology, prevention, and research design. This differs from the emphasis laid in American schools [21] on social and healthcare systems, cultural competency, and oral health promotion.
Dental Caries Prevalence and Service Utilization
Understanding factors influencing dental service utilization and dental caries assists dental professionals in addressing challenges within their field. A cross-sectional study included 1075 participants aged 6 to 12 years old, recruited from primary schools in Mansoura city, Egypt. The study assessed the prevalence of dental caries, the actual pattern of dental service utilization, and factors affecting them, such as parents’ dental fear, demographic, and socio-demographic variables among primary school children.
Key Results
The prevalence of dental caries was higher in primary teeth than in permanent teeth (59.3% vs. 35.8%). Likewise, a higher percentage of children had fillings in their primary dentition (14.1%) than in their permanent dentition (5.1%). Age (6-8 years) significantly impacted dental caries prevalence and service utilization. Being in private schools significantly reduced dental caries in both types of dentitions.
Children whose fathers had a higher educational level demonstrated lower dental caries scores in both dentitions. A higher utilization rate of dental services was noted among children from families with higher incomes (Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.607, P = 0.006). Parental fear was significantly correlated to an increased dental caries prevalence and reduced preventive services (P ≤ 0.05).
Despite the relatively high prevalence of dental caries among study participants, the utilization of dental services was low. Age, number of children, and parental-related factors were predictors of caries prevalence and dental service utilization.
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