The first dentist from Ethiopia with a doctoral degree
As the first person from Ethiopia, Wondwossen Fantaye has taken his doctoral degree in dentistry. Last week he presented his thesis at the University of Bergen.
”It feels good,” says Wondwossen Fantaye, wearing a white Ethiopian formal outfit.
The presentation of the thesis went well, in two weeks he returns to his home country, where he will now become the highest scientific authority within dentistry. Since 1999 he has been a doctoral student at the Faculty of Dentistry and Centre for International Health at UoB, which has had a long cooperation with the University of Addis Abeba. The result is a thesis on the dental disease called dental fluorosis.
Porous teeth
Dental fluorosis is a developmental disturbance in the teeth due to excessive ingestion of fluoride, a problem known in the whole world, but especially common in tropical areas. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 260 million people probably drink water with a fluoride content higher than the recommended limit. This can result in porous dental enamel and teeth white as chalk, and in serious cases the enamel may totally disappear.
“I carried out studies among schoolchildren in areas where the problem is particularly widespread, and have seen both what leads to dental fluorosis, the social consequences, how parents and children look at this and what can be done to neutralise dental fluorosis,” says Wondwossen Fantaye.
Dental fluorosis makes the teeth discoloured and fragile, and a serious degree of fluorosis increases the risk for caries. The damage on the teeth is irreparable, but Wondwossen’s findings imply that practical measures like the prolonged breastfeeding of babies, the use of clay jars for storing water and a reduced consumption of fish and tea can make children less exposed. A mild degree of dental fluorosis is considered to be normal, while a serious case can be more difficult to be accepted socially.
Introducing dentist education
“The challenge is to convince the authorities in Ethiopia of the necessity for taking steps against dental fluorosis in the areas concerned. My doctoral degree gives me authority to argue,” says Wondwossen Fantaye.
He is now employed at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Addis Abeba, where he will be responsible for establishing a dentist education in Ethiopia.