FG urges dental technologists to innovate and digitize their craft

FG urges dental technologists to innovate and digitize their craft

Embracing Innovation and Regulation for a Stronger Dental Technologists Profession

The federal government has urged dental technologists across Nigeria to embrace innovation, digitalisation, and stricter regulation to enhance their role in the country’s evolving healthcare system. This call to action was made by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, during the maiden Dental Technologists National Summit. The event, held in Abuja, focused on the profession’s past, present, and future, bringing together health professionals, policymakers, and students to discuss the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Dr. Salako stressed the importance of modernising standards within the profession, curbing unqualified practitioners, and promoting multi-disciplinary collaboration. He highlighted the need for the Dental Technologists Registration Board of Nigeria (DTRBN) to strengthen its monitoring systems through technology. This includes ensuring that only qualified personnel are allowed to practice and making the public aware of where registered technologists are located.

The minister also called for full digitisation of operations, including student indexing, practitioner registration, and location tracking. He described dental technologists as essential to health outcomes, noting their crucial role in fabricating dental and maxillofacial appliances. Without their contributions, the dental team cannot function optimally, he said, adding that they play a vital role in restoring smiles, speech, nutrition, and patient dignity.

Salako encouraged the adoption of modern methods such as digital scanning, 3D printing, and advanced dental materials. He urged dental technologists not to remain stagnant but to keep pace with technological advancements to ensure better, more comfortable, and accurate care for patients.

Reaffirming the government’s support, Salako stated that dental technologists are important partners in the transformation of the healthcare sector. Their technical skills, material expertise, and ability to adopt modern methods are vital to achieving better health outcomes. He encouraged participants to use the two-day event as a platform for collaboration and strategic dialogue.

A Platform for Ethical Practice and Collaboration

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, represented by the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Healthcare Services, praised the vital but often overlooked contributions of dental technologists. He described the summit as a platform to reawaken collective commitment to ethical practice, research, and collaboration. The Legislature, he said, is ready to partner with stakeholders for reforms that benefit all Nigerians.

In her opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Kachollom Daju, reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening dental practice and called for professional unity. She emphasized that the Ministry of Health is not the domain of any single profession but rather a family united for a common cause. Daju stressed the importance of all health professionals, from technologists to therapists and surgeons, recognising their shared purpose: patient care.

A Historic Milestone for the Profession

The DTRBN Registrar, Idris Bappah, described the summit as a historic milestone and a platform for bold conversations around the challenges facing the profession and the innovative responses required. He noted that the Board, established in 1987 and governed by Act Cap D6 of 2004, is the sole regulator of the profession. It has consistently promoted discipline, professionalism, and ethics while overseeing a growing workforce of licensed technologists.

Bappah detailed the wide scope of the profession, which includes oral and facial prostheses, ocular prostheses, artificial ears, feeding plates for cleft babies, and even breast prostheses for cancer patients. He called for continuous learning and ethical conduct, stating that the summit is not just a gathering but a call to action. He urged participants to challenge the status quo, collaborate meaningfully, and co-create a profession defined by excellence and integrity.

Key Discussions and Challenges

Panel discussions at the summit centred on unity, curriculum reform, and integrated training. Speakers stressed the need for a unified regulatory framework and stronger interprofessional collaboration. Another recurring point was the need to review outdated legislation, with panellists calling on stakeholders to draft proposals for the National Assembly. They advocated for a General Dental Council inclusive of all cadres.

Concerns were raised over leadership tussles and professional hierarchy that could obstruct unity. There were also criticisms of limited interprofessional representation at such summits, with calls for broader inclusion to foster mutual respect. However, the panellists agreed that addressing these challenges requires more than dialogue; it demands intentional structural reform, values-based education, and a shared commitment to patient-centred care.

Recognising Excellence

At the conclusion of the summit, the Minister, the Permanent Secretary, and other dignitaries received awards of excellence in recognition of their contributions to advancing healthcare delivery in Nigeria. The event marked a significant step forward for the dental technologists’ profession, setting the stage for continued growth, innovation, and collaboration.

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