Experts advocate policy to make Orthodontic attractive to young professionals  

…urge Nigerians to prioritise oral health

Stakeholders in Oral health practice and dentists have called on Nigerians to prioritise their oral care. They spoke during the commemoration of the 2026 World Orthodontic Health Day, tagged ‘Beyond Straight Teeth’ to highlight the importance of oral health to overall wellbeing.

Marked by the World Federation of Orthodontists (WFO) every year on May 15, the day highlights that orthodontic care extends beyond aesthetics to improve oral function, confidence, and overall health, emphasizing early assessment and proper alignment.

“I want to bring that awareness to Nigerians and for them to not take their teeth and smile for granted,” Amy Shumbusho, CEO, Smile360, said during a press conference held on Friday May 15, 2026, to commemorate the day.

According to her, Orthodontists play a huge role in helping build comprehensive oral care, and are living at the front seat of providing and improving the overall well-being of Nigerians. “On the 15th of May, we celebrate this specialty called Orthodontics. It’s a specialty that, after being a dental surgeon, you need to go through thorough training that would take between five to six years to become an Orthodontist,” she said.

According to her, Orthodontists have a direct impact on how people feel about themselves, which results in a healthy, functional, and beautiful smile. She added that having a beautiful smile helps to lift individuals’ self-esteem and confidence level.

“By the definition of the World Health Organization, being healthy is not just an absence of infection or disease. It has to do with you having great mental health and having your well-being at the center of everything that matters for your body, mind, and soul,” Shumbusho said.

She also disclosed that the company awarded about N20 million worth of treatment to winners of its 2026 ‘Project Smile,’ a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative that seeks to promote and deepen oral care among Nigerians.

According to Shumbusho, the reward was presented as part of efforts undertaken by Smile360 to deepen awareness about World Orthodontic Health Day, with winners of its Project Smile competition tagged, ‘smile competition.’

“There are walk awareness that are going on in various spaces of the country, and a lot of these events will be collated to continue speaking about this beautiful profession. I’d really like to link Project Smile to the World Orthodontic Health Day, and there’s a reason why we decided to give the prizes of those who won the last Project Smile competition today,” Shumbusho said.

Joel Okwuoha, chief HR office, Smile360, advocated for collective policy direction to make the specialty more attractive to young professions. He added that Nigeria currently has a high porosity of doctors, and orthodontists.

According to him, the last data by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), indicated that Nigeria on an average have over 10,000 Nigerians to a dentist.

“So, there is a need for conscious engagement of the populace toward dentistry, encouraging people to see the opportunities that are found in dentistry, and the kind of impact that it can make,” Okwuoha said.