Oral Health Care in the Cape Verde Islands

Using the example of the Cape Verde Islands in place of many developing countries, we show a way to introduce and establish efficient basic oral health care and a prevention and prophylaxis programme. Can we transfer a system of an industrial nation into a developing country? Caries is one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood all over the world. Currently in Cape Verde, there is no restorative dental treatment; only extractions are performed in the public health centres. There are only 10 dentists available to 500,000 inhabitants, 44% of whom are under 15 years of age. Coupled with excessive consumption of sugar especially in the young population, this consequently leads to very bad oral health. About 50% of the six-year molars in the age group 6 to 9 years are affected by caries. In Germany, it took 30 years to achieve caries-free dentition in about 75% of the school children. The introduction of a functioning system that comprises dental cleaning, oral hygiene instructions, nutrition counselling, fluoridation, and the development of a recall system requires not only the provision of working materials, but also educational and training programmes for local dentists. Schools are a setting for health-promoting interventions. Volunteer support and donations are helpful, but should mainly be assistance that helps people to help themselves. In summary, it makes sense and is possible to establish a mostly autonomous preventive oral health care programme under local condition; however, country-specific circumstances and the long-term perspective must be considered. Keywords: Cape Verde Islands, oral health care, prophylaxis programme