The Need for Geriatric Dental Education in Nigeria

Background: The elderly population of Nigeria has grown dramatically since the beginning of the twentieth century indicating the need for an increased geriatric care.Objective: To evaluate the status and need for geriatric dental education in Nigeria.Materials and Methods: A search of reports in libraries of Universities that offer Bachelor of Dental Surgery programme and websites of relevant educational agencies and institutions such as the Nigerian University Commission and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria on dental education in Nigeria focusing on geriatric dental education was undertaken.Results: There are nine universities that offer Bachelor of Dental Surgery in Nigeria; eight are owned by the federal government and one owned by the state government. Of the nine Faculties of Dentistry, four were established over 40 years ago producing about 160 dental graduates every year. The other five Faculties of Dentistry were established about 15 years ago producing about 100 dental graduates every year. At postgraduate level, there are ten recognized specialties in Dentistry and approximately 12 accredited health institutions offer about 80 places for specialist training every year. The specialist training is regulated by both the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and West African College of Surgeons and a Fellowship is awarded by these colleges to about 15 specialists every year. There are only two universities that offer postgraduate academic Masters programmes comprising Masters in dental public health and Master in dental sciences. Only one dental school has an undergraduate curriculum that has geriatric dentistry. At postgraduate level, geriatric dentistry was not developed as a separate and independent specialty. Undergraduate dental education is monitored by both the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and the National University Commission.Conclusion: It is recommended that geriatric dentistry should be included in the curriculum of undergraduate dental students and should be well structured in postgraduate specialists' curriculum. Postgraduate diploma and degree programmes in geriatric dentistry should be established to address the needs of the vast elderly population in Nigeria.