Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, said the Government is committed to advancing oral and dental health services across Guyana, emphasising a vision for a “modern, patient-centred” approach to dentistry.
The Minister made the remarks as he addressed dental professionals gathered for the 2025 Dental Auxiliary Conference, held under the theme “Building Thriving Dental Practices for the Future.” The event, hosted at the Mirage Banquet Hall, Brickdam, brought together dental practitioners, auxiliary staff, and stakeholders from across the country to discuss innovations, challenges, and the future of dental care in Guyana.
In his feature address, Dr. Anthony commended the Dental Health Services and the Cheddi Jagan Dental Centre for organising the annual conference, describing it as a vital platform for professional networking and knowledge sharing.
The Minister highlighted the significant strides made in strengthening Guyana’s dental infrastructure and modernising oral health services. He pointed to the complete transformation of the Cheddi Jagan Dental School, which now features state-of-the-art equipment, upgraded clinical spaces, and an in-house pharmacy.
He also outlined the Ministry’s efforts to embrace digital dentistry, including the introduction of electronic patient records at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). The system, expected to be fully operational by early 2026, will allow seamless access to patient information across health facilities.
Dr. Anthony further announced the introduction of Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems—cutting-edge technology that enables same-day dental restorations such as crowns, significantly improving patient experience and clinical outcomes.
“This is the future of dentistry—digital, efficient, and patient-centred. With CAD/CAM systems, procedures that once took weeks can now be completed in an hour,” he stated.
The Minister also highlighted the achievements of the school health programme, which includes dental screenings for students entering nursery, primary, and secondary levels. More than 60,000 nursery and primary school students have already been screened under this initiative, which focuses on early detection and prevention of oral and developmental health issues.
Dr. Anthony reaffirmed that the Ministry of Health will continue to prioritise the expansion of dental departments in all new and existing regional hospitals, ensuring that modern, patient-centred oral health services are accessible to every region of Guyana.
