Over 500 tooth extracted during Pader dental outreach

9 May 2026, 10:53 am

By Geoffrey Okwong

More than 500 tooth extractions were recorded during a four-day free dental outreach conducted by Hope Smiles Uganda at Pader Health Centre III, raising concerns over poor oral health and increasing cases of tooth decay in the community.

According to Dr. Grace Ainembabazi of Hope Smiles Uganda, they carried out a total of 821 dental procedures, including 514 tooth extractions, 177 dental cleanings, and 130 fillings.

Dr. Ainembabazi expressed gratitude to the people of Pader District for embracing the outreach services, describing the community response as encouraging.

She appreciated the support from health workers, district leaders, and local media for helping mobilise residents to seek treatment.

Dr. Ainembabazi explained that the outreach was conducted through a mobile dental clinic setup offering services such as fillings, cleanings, and tooth extractions.

However, she noted that many patients arrived at the clinic seeking dental fillings only to discover that their teeth were too damaged to be saved.

Dr. Ainembabazi said the high number of tooth extractions reflects the widespread prevalence of tooth decay in the region, which she linked to excessive sugar consumption and poor oral hygiene practices.

She warned residents against frequent consumption of sugary foods and drinks such as sodas, biscuits, bread, and locally made sweetened simsim snacks.

Dr. Ainembabazi encouraged residents to reduce sugar intake and brush their teeth regularly, especially after meals.

She also urged community members to seek dental treatment early whenever free outreach services are announced instead of waiting until the final day.

Dr. Ainembabazi said Hope Smiles Uganda is a dental-focused organisation operating mobile outreach clinics across the country to improve access to affordable and compassionate dental care.

She added that the organisation’s mobile teams are capable of serving between 400 and 600 patients during outreach programmes conducted in different parts of Uganda. 

Meanwhile, Agnes Acen, a resident of Lagwai Zone B in Lagwai Parish, Pader Town Council, applauded Hope Smiles Uganda for relieving residents from the unbearable pain caused by toothache.

Acen said she had spent nearly four months struggling to access dental care services before learning about the outreach.

She appealed to Hope Smiles Uganda to continue returning to the district, noting that many people are still suffering from dental complications and require treatment.

Acen also recommended that information about future outreaches should be disseminated earlier and that the number of outreach days should be increased to handle the large number of patients.

Hope Smiles Uganda, a dental care organisation based in Jinja, provides mobile dental services across the country in partnership with district health offices, churches, schools, and Village Health Teams to improve access to dental care in underserved communities.