TEHRAN, Iran: A brand new evaluation of International Burden of Illness information from 2021 exhibits that, whereas some indicators of dental caries have improved throughout the Center East and North Africa (MENA), the area continues to expertise the next burden of caries than the worldwide common, significantly amongst adults. The research highlights persistent inequalities, various nationwide tendencies and the necessity for stronger preventive insurance policies.
The research assessed the incidence, prevalence and years lived with incapacity linked to caries within the major and everlasting dentition throughout 21 MENA international locations from 1990 to 2021. In everlasting dentition, the age-standardised incidence fee confirmed a small upward shift. Nonetheless, each prevalence and incapacity charges fell modestly over the identical interval. Regardless of these enhancements, all three measures remained above world averages, reflecting continued unmet want for prevention and remedy.
For major enamel, the image was barely extra optimistic. Each incidence and prevalence declined region-wide, and incapacity charges additionally fell, mirroring world tendencies. The best incidence occurred amongst kids aged 5–9, whereas prevalence peaked in kids aged 2–4.
On the nationwide degree, variation was pronounced. Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Sudan persistently recorded among the many highest prevalence charges for caries within the everlasting dentition, whereas Iran, Egypt and Morocco reported the bottom. In major enamel, Saudi Arabia and Iran have been among the many international locations with the very best burden in each 1990 and 2021.
Socio-demographic components strongly formed outcomes. The research recognized usually larger caries burden in lower-income international locations, the place restricted entry to oral healthcare, dental workforce shortages, low insurance coverage protection and concrete–rural service inequalities contribute to poorer oral well being. Ongoing conflicts, significantly in Syria, Yemen, Libya and Sudan, have additional weakened dental service provision and exacerbated inhabitants vulnerability.
More Read
Conversely, rising caries incidence within the area’s higher-income international locations was linked to elevated sugar consumption. The common sugar consumption in MENA international locations exceeds World Well being Group suggestions, and fewer than half of the international locations have applied taxation on sugar-sweetened drinks.
The authors argue that higher funding in preventive care, early childhood dental programmes and region-wide public well being initiatives—significantly these focusing on dietary sugar—might be required to cut back the long-term burden. They spotlight the necessity for insurance policies that develop entry to reasonably priced dental companies and prioritise oral well being fairness.
The research, titled “Burden of permanent and deciduous dental caries in Middle East and North Africa (MENA): An epidemiological analysis of global burden of disease study from 1990 to 2021”, was printed on-line on 6 October 2025 in BMC Oral Well being.
More Read
Subjects:
Tags:
DAMASCUS, Syria: As well being employees, dentists are sometimes positioned prone to illness transmission, since they’re uncovered to bloodborne infections of …
AMMAN, Jordan: The ceremony of passage by college training into the skilled world is one which for a lot of college students is fraught with stress. …
More Read
AMMAN, Jordan: As synthetic intelligence continues to develop its position in healthcare, giant language fashions akin to ChatGPT are more and more getting used to …
DUBAI, UAE: A brand new settlement between UCL Consultants— the consultancy arm of College School London (UCL)—and Dubai’s Liberty Dental Clinic is …
DUBAI, UAE: The organisers of two vital dental expos have signed an settlement that goals to strengthen their collaboration within the Center East and …
Straumann Group’s Holger Haderer, who led its implantology enterprise unit from 2019, assumed the position of head of the Europe, Center East and Africa (EMEA) …
Dwell webinar
Mon. 6 July 202612:00 pm EST (New York)
Dr. Leander Benz
Dwell webinar
Tue. 7 July 20268:00 pm EST (New York)
Dr. Mark Donaldson BSP, ACPR, PHARMD, FASHP, FACHE
Dwell webinar
Wed. 8 July 20268:00 am EST (New York)
Peter Edwin Brandt
Dwell webinar
Wed. 8 July 20261:00 pm EST (New York)
Prof. Gianluca Gambarini MD, DDS
Dwell webinar
Wed. 8 July 202610:00 pm EST (New York)
Dr. Jae Seon Kim DDS, MSD, FACP, CDT
Dwell webinar
Thu. 9 July 20261:00 pm EST (New York)
Dr. Armando Lopes, Dr. Carlos Moura Guedes
Dwell webinar
Fri. 10 July 20268:00 am EST (New York)
Dr. Marc Elstner
