Why Oral Health Matters
A global perspective on access to oral healthcare and sustainable impact
A recent article published by The Philanthropist highlights the importance of oral health as a global public health issue. Featuring initiatives in Africa, Mongolia and Peru, it showcases how organizations like Suyana Foundation contribute to improving access to essential dental care.
Oral diseases remain among the most widespread non-communicable diseases worldwide, affecting an estimated 3.5 billion people. As highlighted in The Philanthropist, oral health is not only a matter of hygiene or aesthetics—it is a fundamental component of overall health, closely linked to broader health outcomes.
Despite the fact that many oral diseases are preventable or treatable through simple primary care interventions, access to dental services remains highly unequal across the world. In many regions, healthcare systems are still largely oriented toward specialized and costly treatments, leaving vulnerable populations without access to basic care.
In response, global efforts are increasingly shifting toward integrating oral health into primary healthcare systems. Initiatives led by organizations such as Mercy Ships in Africa, Misheel Kids Foundation in Mongolia, and Suyana Foundation in Peru illustrate how combining prevention, treatment and capacity building can create sustainable impact.
In Peru, Suyana Foundation has been working for many years to improve access to oral healthcare in remote communities. Since the start of its activities, more than 150,000 treatments have been carried out and over 18,000 students have been trained in oral hygiene.
Since 2025, a collaboration with the Straumann Group Foundation has further strengthened this approach. Through mobile dental clinics and community-based programmes, the initiative aims to bring both preventive and curative care closer to underserved populations, while promoting long-term behavioural change and local capacity development.
These efforts reflect a broader shift in global health: moving from one-off interventions toward systemic approaches that integrate education, prevention and local ownership.
Read the full article on The Philanthropist: Why oral health matters – THE PHILANTHROPIST
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