SKYGEN International Foundation Brings Dental Care and Oral Health Education to Tanzania

As Children’s Dental Health Month in the U.S. comes to a close, the SKYGEN International Foundation is finding it would be beneficial to recognize it in Tanzania, too. In 2022, the Foundation began offering oral health education and limited dental care in addition to vision care to people living in the Arusha region of Tanzania.

“Many of the people we serve in Arusha are subsistence farmers living in rural areas, so access and affordability are substantial barriers to all kinds of health care,” says Brett Bennett, the Foundation’s vision director. “As with vision, there is a significant shortage of dental professionals. Many Tanzanians have never visited the dentist or learned how to care for their teeth. During field clinics, instead of asking about their brushing habits, we ask ‘How do you clean your teeth?’”

Through a partnership with Miracle Corners-Tanzania, during the Foundation’s mobile field clinics children receive oral health education, screenings, and fluoride treatment. The dental outreach also includes free toothbrush and toothbrush kits gifted by Colgate. At the Foundation’s brick and mortar location, children and adults can receive restorative dental care such as fillings and simple extractions. 
 

Universal Challenges in Oral Health

Though the U.S. and Tanzania are vastly different, the countries face surprisingly similar challenges regarding children's oral health:  

• Limited access to dental care – For many reasons, children lack access to professional dental services, which results in untreated dental issues and poor oral hygiene practices.
• High prevalence of tooth decay – Dental cavities is one of the most common dental health issues among children in both the U.S. and Tanzania. Poor dietary habits contribute significantly to high rates of tooth decay.
• Lack of oral health education – Some children and parents are not aware of good oral hygiene habits. This lack of awareness contributes to high rates of preventable dental problems. In Tanzania, the oral health education the SKYGEN team provides to students in schools is brought home to their parents who are then learning it for the first time.
• Impact of oral health on overall health – Oral health issues, such as untreated cavities or gum disease, can lead to broader health problems for people of all ages in all countries. These problems include malnutrition, infection and heart disease. 
   

Partnership is Key to Sustained Impact

The Foundation’s partnership with Miracle Corners-Tanzania has been key to continuing these critical dental outreach efforts. Since the partnership began:

• 404,755 people reached with oral health education
• 160,706 toothbrushes & toothpaste given out

“Starting good oral hygiene habits early is so important for every child,” says Brett. “We hope the dental outreach and restorative care we’re providing can help put kids on the path to life-long healthy smiles.”

Can you help us change children’s lives through better healthcare? Your support can make a lasting impact on their smiles, their vision, and well-being. Every contribution helps – make a gift today!
 

Join Our Mission

Our mission is to find cost effective ways to improve healthcare in underserved parts of the world by using emerging technologies. The SKYGEN International Foundation works to deliver life-changing healthcare benefits to those without them due to cost or lack of access to care and technology.