Oral health disparities of Sudanese refugees of the Dinka and Nuer tribes

Abstract

There are different levels of acculturation refugees undergo upon arrival to a foreign location, including integration. Ritualistic anterior dentition extraction is the greatest barrier to integration for the Sudanese refugees of the Dinka & Nuer tribes. Due to this barrier, oral health disparities for these refugees include malocclusion, chewing, simple biting, and speech articulation. In this study, it is concluded that most refuges could benefit from dental implants for dental restoration psychologically and emotionally. This study revisited the need for an oral hygiene program post-dental restoration to help combat oral disparities for these Sudanese refugees. Based on the literature review of the published studies, a proposed program plan was developed to fit the needs of the Dinka & Nuer Sudanese refugees.