The University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) joins the global community in commemorating the 2026 World Orthodontic Health Day, reaffirming its commitment to quality oral healthcare as an integral component of overall health and wellbeing.
This year’s theme, “Beyond Dtraight Teeth,” highlights that orthodontic care extends beyond aesthetics to include function, comfort, speech, oral hygiene, and the prevention of long-term dental complications. Its impact is therefore both clinical and deeply functional in improving quality of life.
Because of this broader importance, gaps in awareness and late presentation continue to affect outcomes in many patients seen within our healthcare system. These challenges reinforce the need for early dental assessment, timely referral, and stronger public education on orthodontic care.
In response, UBTH continues to strengthen its specialist dental services and multidisciplinary approach to care, with emphasis on capacity building, patient education, and improved access to quality orthodontic treatment within a tertiary healthcare setting.
We encourage the public to prioritize routine dental evaluation and seek orthodontic consultation where necessary, as early intervention remains key to achieving optimal functional and health outcomes.
As we mark this occasion, UBTH reaffirms that quality orthodontic care is essential to holistic health- truly, beyond straight teeth.
Prof. (Mrs.) Idia Nibokun Ize-Iyamu,
Chief Medical Director, UBTH.
