Healthy Smiles: Free dental care for Shanty Town Spirit
Exciting update! Shanty Town Spirit recently signed an MOU with the University of Puthisastra Dental Clinic. Our community members will now be able to access FREE dental services including cleaning, extraction, fillings, 3rd molar surgery, sealants, Fluoride, X-Ray, and foot canal treatment.
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| Our brave dental patients waiting to be treated |
The prevalence of tooth decay and periodontal diseases due to poor oral health is unfortunately common in children living within impoverished communities. Families living in poverty often don’t have the financial resources to schedule regular dental appointments and struggle to buy the essentials for oral hygiene: toothpaste, toothbrush or dental floss. Inadequate nutrition and high sugar intake are also major contributors to poor oral health.
Poor dental health has wider implications and can significantly impact a child's wellbeing and that of their family. Children who have toothache or who need treatment may have pain, infections and difficulties with eating, sleeping and socialising.
Our program members will be treated by dentists in training who are undertaking 8 years of study using state-of-the-art equipment. This week the first 9 children came in for a check up and clean, and some needed extractions. Each of them was very brave, despite feeling scared, and for some it was their first visit to the dentist. At the end, our patients were happy and felt well cared for.
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| Puthisastra Student Dental Clinic treatment room |
We are most grateful to Mr. Callum Durward, Dean of FHS Dentistry and Dr Bich SOTHEA, Deputy dental Clinic Manager who developed the MOU for us. We look forward to a long collaboration and lots of big smiles and healthy teeth and gums!
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| The Dean and staff of Puthisastra Dental Clinic
Shanty Town Spirit is still looking for new collaborations, corporate and private donors. If you would like to get involved, we would love to hear from you! Please get in touch using the details below:
One Spirit, One Heart, One Community.
You can help us by sponsoring the Shanty Town Spirit program:
Click on Make a difference
OR contact
Ermine Norodom: +855 (0) 17 49 27 19 (French and English)
Phirun Prak (Arun): +855 (0) 96 663 6666 (English and Khmer)
words by Jessica Sander
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