A shortage of dentists in the Philippines has resulted in a wide gap between the number of practicing dental professionals and the country’s population, a health official said on Sunday.
In an interview over Super Radyo dzBB, Emmie Perez, undersecretary of the Department of Health (DOH), said the current dentist-to-population ratio stands at 1 to 53,000.
Perez said this imbalance may help explain why nine out of 10 Filipino children suffer from tooth decay or other dental problems.
“Napakataas po ng kailangang habulin ng isang dentista which we cannot do at this moment… Pinagsusumikapan po namin na matugunan pero hindi kaya po,” she said, noting that the high ratio and past structural changes in the health system contributed to service gaps.
(The demand on each dentist is extremely high, which we cannot meet at this moment. We are striving to address it, but it is difficult.)
She added that while the DOH has oral health programs, these remain limited compared with the country’s overall needs.
Perez noted that the current ratio falls far below the standard recommended by the World Health Organization, which suggests one dentist for every 7,500 people.
She attributed the shortage partly to inadequate compensation for government dentists, saying entry-level public sector positions are only around Salary Grade 16, making recruitment and retention difficult.
Perez also pointed out that oral health is often overlooked despite being an essential component of overall health, and called for reforms to prioritize dental care, including reviving the DOH’s former Oral Health Bureau.
Meanwhile, a preventive oral healthcare package has been available through Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) since 2024.
The benefit covers preventive services and emergency tooth extraction in accredited facilities, with coverage of up to ₱1,000 annually.
While existing programs focus on prevention, the DOH is studying future benefit packages to address tooth loss and provide support for dentures.
“Hindi po kaya ng government alone. Kailangan po natin ng collaboration with the private sector,” Perez said, urging more dentists nationwide to participate in government programs.
(The government cannot do this alone. We need collaboration with the private sector.)
She added that consultations are ongoing for the rollout of expanded oral health packages.—MCG, GMA Integrated News
