Six lecturers and nearly 60 students from the Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology, DTU College of Medicine and Pharmacy (CMP), are providing free dental care for people living in remote areas.
The team traveled to Nam Giang district in Quang Nam as part of a collaborative program with the NGO Share Sarangbat (Fields of Love), running from July 8th to 18th. The lecturers, doctors, and students offered dental care at Thanh My primary school, equipped with one clinic, two treatment rooms with 16 treatment chairs, and a lot of modern machines, equipment, and medical supplies.
The mother of Ngoc Hieu (a student at Thanh My primary school) shared that she and her child arrived in early morning to receive dental care. The doctors recommended filling cavities and provided detailed instructions on oral hygiene and the importance of regular check-ups at least every six months. The doctors and students were professional and friendly.
Doctors provide dental care for children at Thanh My primary school. Photo: DTU
On the first day, the team provided dental care for over 100 children. They performed cavity fillings and applied SDF (Silver Diamine Fluoride) to numerous decayed primary teeth to prevent the progression of dental diseases. They also performed tartar removal and tooth extractions. Additionally, the school a dental X-ray machine was deployed with aesthetic composite filling techniques.
By July 18, the total value of services provided to more than 2,000 residents is about 600 million VND. These services include consultations for oral-maxillofacial diseases, treatment of congenital jaw and facial deformities, basic dental disease treatment, referrals, and financial support for complex dental treatments (funded by Sharangbat organization).
Additionally, the team distributed more than 120 million VND worth of in-kind gifts, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, and essential supplies to support the daily lives of the local residents.
The team provides guidance before dental examinations. Photo: DTU
MSc. Dr. Nguyen Ha Quoc Trung, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology, shared that the program had a very large number of registered locals for examination and treatment. Compared to the previous year, the scale of the program has doubled, and additional specialties such as Pediatrics and Pharmacy have been included.
Ms Nguyen Anh Phuong, representative of the Share Sarangbat in Da Nang, also said that "Green Summer 2024" is a continuation of the "Oral Health Improvement 2023" program, expanding and reaching closer to the communes in Nam Giang District.
Through two collaborations with DTU, Share Sarangbat Da Nang has received support from dedicated students, modern equipment, and many practical and meaningful gifts. These efforts provide opportunities for dental care for people in mountainous areas.
The team distributes gifts to children. Photo: DTU
Previously, DTU provided free dental care for pupils at Xa Ba primary school in Dong Giang, (Quang Nam), ethnic residents in BhaLêê Commune in Tay Giang (Quang Nam), and Hope Village in Da Nang.
Through these campaigns, DTU has examined and provided dental consultations to 2,299 individuals, filled 1,245 cavities, removed tartar for 929 individuals, applied SDF to 2,365 decayed primary teeth in children, extracted 172 teeth, and distributed 2,314 gift packages. These packages included toothpaste, toothbrushes, hand soap, rice, blankets, and clothing for families.
The program also received the very support of Dentium, Viet Duc Dental Clinic, MEDENT Company, Phap-Viet Hue Dental Clinic, Quang Trung Pharmacy, Viet Quang Company, Mani Company, Dr. Le Van Ha, Dr. Le Thi Thu Ha, and others.
(Media Center)