– DG Dr Mahadeo says free and expanded dental services ease financial burdens on patients
– notes citizens save over $1B as public dental services expand countrywide
THE Government of Guyana, led by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, is currently offering high-quality dental care services.
This is according to Director General (DG) of the Ministry of Health and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo, during his presentation at the 2026 Budget debate.
Dr Mahadeo told the House that when the current administration assumed office in 2020, the dental infrastructure it inherited was crippled, with fewer than 50,000 procedures conducted nationwide. Since then, he said, the PPP/C government has engineered a comprehensive, nationwide, and inclusive framework for dental care, expanding services, investing in modern equipment, and strengthening human-resource capacity to meet growing demand.
“We have moved from 50 largely non-functioning dental chairs to 99, nearly a 100 per cent increase. In just four years, annual dental procedures have risen from under 50,000 to 494,000. Each number represents a patient treated, pain alleviated, and health restored,” Dr Mahadeo stated as he contrasted the performance of the two administrations.
He further highlighted that the number of dental clinics across the country has increased to 59 facilities, ensuring wider geographic access, while advanced services such as dental CT scans in Regions Four, Six, Eight, and 10, digital X-rays, and 3D printing have been introduced.
Presenting detailed statistics to demonstrate the tangible impact on citizens, Dr Mahadeo noted that in 2025 alone, 390 root-canal procedures were completed compared to just 13 in 2022. At an estimated private cost of $50,000 per procedure, the change represents $19.5 million saved. X-rays increased from 2,258 in 2022 to 16,595 in 2025, translating to approximately $33.1 million in savings at an estimated $2,000 per scan. Fluoride treatments moved from zero in 2020 to 24,887 in 2025, representing more than $49 million in avoided costs. Prophylaxis (cleaning) procedures totalled 23,356 in 2025, valued at over $200 million, while 32,420 fillings were completed, representing approximately $324 million in savings. Additionally, 7,989 impacted tooth procedures, most of which required surgical intervention, were performed, representing more than $399 million that citizens did not have to pay if they were to be done at a private institution.
“When you add it all together, Mr Speaker, it amounts to over $1 billion dollars that remained in the pockets of the people. This is not money we had allocated in the budget; it is money that citizens did not have to spend to access essential dental care,” he emphasised.
Beyond infrastructure and service delivery, Dr Mahadeo underscored the government’s investment in human capital, noting that 18 new dental assistants were trained and deployed across the regions, while 12 persons graduated from the Dental Laboratory Technician Programme to support denture fabrication. Simulation equipment has also been procured to ensure dental professionals in training gain practical experience before entering clinical service. He added that diagnostic capacity continues to expand, with X-rays increasing from 22,000 to 62,000 in a single year, further demonstrating what he described as a deliberate and sustained effort to strengthen oral healthcare nationwide.
