The Kenya Dental Association (KDA), working with Mars Wrigley Kenya, Gemsmiles Foundation and other partners, provided free dental consultations and treatment to more than 7,000 people during World Oral Health Day activities in Nairobi, the organisations said in a statement dated March 21, 2026.

The annual event, marked globally on March 20, included a series of dental camps and an oral health awareness walk in Nairobi. KDA said the outreach offered screenings and services such as extractions, cleaning, fillings and root canal treatments.

The initiative comes as Kenya’s oral healthcare system continues to face staffing and access gaps, especially outside major urban centres. KDA said the current dentist-to-population ratio stands at 1:37,800, compared with the World Health Organization’s recommended benchmark of 1:7,000, limiting access to care for many households.

KDA said it used the commemoration to press for policy and investment measures aimed at reducing regional disparities in service availability. The association called for “investment in equitable deployment of oral health professionals including dentists and community oral health officers to address gaps across counties and underserved communities,” noting what it described as disproportionate distribution of dental professionals and facilities between urban and rural areas.

“Oral health remains one of the most overlooked components of overall health, yet the burden of untreated dental disease is significant and often preventable,” said Dr. Kahura Mundia, President of the Kenya Dental Association. “Beyond providing services and education as part of celebrating World Oral Health Day, we are also spotlighting systemic challenges that keep care out of reach for many families.”

In the statement, KDA also pointed to affordability constraints, arguing that the cost of neglected dental conditions, combined with limited benefits for oral health under both public and private insurance schemes, can place treatment out of reach for many patients.

Mars Wrigley Kenya said its support focused on prevention and early action through community-based interventions. “Preventive oral care habits and regular check-ups are among the most effective ways to reduce the burden of oral disease,” said Victoria Macharia, Corporate Affairs Manager, Sub-Saharan Africa, Mars Wrigley. “Through this collaboration with KDA and partners, we are supporting community-based interventions that create awareness, encourage early action, and expand access, especially for vulnerable and underserved populations.”

The World Oral Health Day programme in Nairobi included an awareness walk flagged off from Ulinzi Stadium, bringing together oral health professionals, community partners and advocates, according to the organisers. KDA said the walk was complemented by a dental camp in Kibra that provided free consultations and treatment, including screening, cleaning, fluoride application, emergency care and procedures such as extractions and root canal treatments.

For Kenya’s healthcare sector, the staffing figures and financing constraints cited by KDA underscore a broader challenge for county health systems: scaling preventive services and specialised care while expanding coverage mechanisms that reduce out-of-pocket spending. Expanded insurance benefits for dental care could also increase patient demand for services, with implications for private clinics and suppliers, while also raising the need for workforce growth and distribution across counties.

Looking ahead, KDA said it wants policymakers, healthcare providers and partners to strengthen policies that support universal access to oral healthcare, and to expand insurance coverage for essential dental services. Mars Wrigley said its current support builds on earlier community dental camps in Lamu, Narok, Makueni and Nairobi that provided screenings, education and basic treatment services.