IJFNPH · Vol 15, Nos 1/2 · 2025Conceptual

Dental Education in Sudan: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Path Forward, Dr Eman Mohamed Kheir

Associate Professor of Oral Medicine and Periodontology
Former Dean, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Surgery, Director, Centre for Professional Development, National University
Sudan
Received: 14 May 2025Revised: 9 June 2025Accepted: 12 June 2025Published: 29 June 2025
Purpose

Dentistry in Sudan has evolved, with many dental faculties and programmes, significantly increasing the number of graduates. This paper describes the progression of dental education in Sudan, identifies challenges, and proposes opportunities.

Design/Methodology/Approach

This paper combines personal experience with relevant literature from the PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct databases. We retrieved articles and reports published in English over the last 50 years.

Findings

Sudan faces challenges in dental education as a developing country. Quality education, combined with digital learning, improved infrastructure, reformed faculty and curriculum, expanded internship and postgraduate pathways, enhanced community engagement, and increased accountability, has led the way forward. Value of the study: The study provides insights into Sudan’s dental education challenges, paving the way for further research. Limitations of the study: Insufficient relevant published data exists on the topic.

Practical Implications

The paper explores opportunities, prompts policy change, and enhances the profession’s alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Keywords
DentistryDental EducationOral healthCommunity Services
Citation

Kheir, E.A.A.M. (2025): Dental Education in Sudan: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Path Forward. International Journal of Food, Nutrition and Public Health (IJFNPH), Vol.15, No.1-2, pp. 15-25.