The Founder of Toothmine Dental Clinic, Dr Abraham Akinbami, has urged the Federal Government, through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), to subsidise the cost of dental care equipment to make oral healthcare more affordable and accessible to Nigerians.

Speaking during the launch of the clinic in Lagos, Akinbami lamented that nearly all dental equipment and consumables used in Nigeria are imported, a situation that significantly increases the cost of treatment due to customs duties and foreign exchange challenges.

He noted that while the government recently introduced subsidies for dialysis treatment, dental care remains prohibitively expensive, with procedures such as orthodontics costing between N900,000 and N1.5 million, and veneers exceeding N5 million.

“Dental care in Nigeria can match global standards, but the cost of equipment is a major barrier,” he said. “If the NHIS truly aims to make healthcare affordable, dental services should be included in subsidy programmes. Import duties on dental equipment should also be reviewed to ease the financial burden on practitioners and patients.”

Akinbami explained that the clinic has been involved in several community outreaches offering preventive care and basic treatments, but emphasised that such efforts need to be supported by broader government policies.

“We are also pursuing public education and awareness on oral health,” he said. “The gap in dental care access is still wide, and more investment in training, education, and awareness will help produce more dentists and improve national oral health.”

On the causes of common dental problems, he attributed much of it to high sugar consumption and poor oral hygiene, stressing that the simplest preventive measure is brushing at night.

“Brushing before bed helps remove food particles that bacteria feed on overnight,” he said. “People should brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and use a medium-bristle toothbrush. Avoid chewing ice or using hard brushes, which can cause gum recession and enamel erosion.”

Akinbami advised Nigerians to visit the dentist every six months for routine checks and preventive care, noting that early intervention is far cheaper than advanced dental procedures.