The dental profession has expressed profound concern and unequivocal condemnation following the reported publication by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) of a purported scope of practice that seeks to authorize persons who are not qualified dentists to provide dental care services.
In a statement issued on 23 July 2026, the Kenya Dental Association (KDA) described the reported publication as unlawful, irrational, procedurally flawed, and contrary to the Constitution, the Health Act, and the statutory mandate of the Council.
According to the statement, any attempt to expand clinical dental practice through administrative publications, rather than through lawful legislative and regulatory processes, constitutes an abuse of statutory power and cannot confer legal authority where none exists.
The statement further notes that the scope of clinical dental practice is a matter of public safety and should not be altered through circulars, notices, or administrative publications that have neither been subjected to public participation nor developed through meaningful consultation with the dental profession and other affected stakeholders.
It further warns that the reported publication exposes millions of Kenyans to the risk of unsafe, substandard, and unregulated dental treatment. Patients have a constitutional right to the highest attainable standard of health, including access to safe, quality, and professionally regulated oral healthcare. According to the statement, any regulatory action that dilutes professional standards places the public at unnecessary risk and undermines confidence in Kenya’s health regulatory framework.
The Association further maintains that professional regulation must be founded on evidence, lawful authority, competency-based training, and patient safety. It argues that individuals who have not been trained and licensed as dentists cannot lawfully undertake procedures reserved for the practice of dentistry merely because a regulator has purported to redefine their scope through an administrative publication.
Of particular concern, according to the statement, is the reported inclusion of the following advanced dental procedures:
- Root canal treatment (Endodontics)
- Orthodontic treatment
- Restorative dental treatments
- Prosthodontic treatment
- Advanced dental surgeries
- Pharmacological prescribing
- Paediatric dentistry care
The Association states that these are advanced clinical procedures requiring the knowledge, competence, and training of qualified dental practitioners and surgeons. It warns that their reported inclusion through an administrative publication threatens patient safety, undermines professional standards, and exceeds the proper regulatory process.
The Association has called on KMPDC to:
- Withdraw the reported publication.
- Suspend implementation of the purported scope of practice.
- Publish the expert reports, competency assessments, and stakeholder consultation documents relied upon in developing the reported scope of practice.
- Convene an urgent stakeholder forum involving the dental profession, universities, professional associations, and the Ministry of Health.
The statement further indicates that legal action will be pursued should the publication not be withdrawn, with the aim of protecting the public interest, upholding professional standards, and safeguarding the rule of law.
The statement concludes by reaffirming that the regulation of healthcare professions exists primarily to protect patients – not to lower professional standards or legitimize unauthorized clinical practice. It emphasizes that patient safety, professional accountability, and adherence to the law must remain the guiding principles of every regulatory decision.
The Kenya Dental Association reaffirmed its commitment to working with all stakeholders to strengthen oral healthcare while ensuring that every person providing dental treatment possesses the qualifications, competence, and legal authority required by law.
