At the front of the line, a boy pushes his friend forward as his turn approaches. His friend is eager. They have been waiting in line since before 9am to get their teeth cleaned, cavities filled or milk teeth extracted. Four dental chairs are lined up, and volunteer dentists from the Private Dentist Foundation of Thailand work tirelessly. When a child is finished being treated, a nurse runs off with a tray of equipment to be washed, go through a UV-light cleaning system and sealed up in sterile bags. The dentist wipes down the station.
Tambon Wangmee in Nakhon Ratchasima, where the five-day dental services took place last month, is the second stop of the Ronald McDonald Dental Care Unit under the "Good Health Under Royal Graciousness" programme, a collaboration with the Thai Red Cross Children's Home and the Royal Army. In addition to the four dental stations, a container truck has been converted into a mobile dental unit equipped with everything from a dental chair to a digital X-ray machine. The truck was contributed by Fuso Truck. Fitting it with the equipment, including an electrical generator, cost 10 million baht.
A volunteer dentist from the Private Dentist Foundation of Thailand checks up on a child.
Here, children wait patiently by the door, fascinated. They have been previously vetted as to the treatments they need, though in theory those who necessitate treatment are not subject to discrimination.
Each child holds a piece of paper with his or her ailments written on it, such as cavities identified. Children with more serious and difficult cases are referred to the Wang Nam Keaw Hospital. The team of five dentists treats as many as 130 children in one day. Today, there are more volunteer dentists and nurses to treat adults as well. Without the programme, the children would have to go to the hospital for dental care, and the hospital does not have the capacity to treat everyone. Approximately 10 patients are treated a day at a hospital, by one dentist.
The atmosphere is that of a county fair, though the main attractions include health check-up stations where blood pressure is taken and eyesight examined. Eyeglasses are distributed. All treatment is free and food is provided. A child runs towards his friends, grinning, biting on a piece of gauze. He asks: "You guys got your teeth pulled yet?" Some are excited and running around. Some are wiping away tears. One had to be carried as he flailed violently and placed in the dentist chair by his mother. It's a loud scene as the junta's Happiness song plays on repeat.
As many as 80% of young children in the area have cavities, said Dr Supapon Iammatavee, president of the Private Dentist Foundation of Thailand. Dentists volunteering in the programme are from the foundation.
"Children these days are more prone to cavities not just because of sweets and snacks, but because of the frequency at which they eat."
As many as 130 children are treated in a day.
In a worst-case scenario, cavities that go untreated may lead to serious infections of the throat and eyes, and eventually death.
"With pain, there is something like an on and off switch. A child would be concerned when he's in pain and forgets about it when the pain goes away," says Supapon.
He has travelled all over Thailand and learned that dental problems are similar everywhere. The first permanent molar is most often affected. The children do not know how to properly care for their teeth, and even if they do brush, they do so rather carelessly.
The dental care unit now operates once a month, travelling through the country, but this is far from sufficient, says Dr Supapon, although he points out that there are many units supported by HM the King and HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
"With the different branches of the military as the backbone of the operation and with the various organisations involved, it is difficult to organise the event more frequently," says MR Jiyakorn Sesavej, a member of the board of the Thai Red Cross Children's Home. "We work instead to bring more doctors and health providers to each event. Today, we also have veterinarians for pets and farm animals. We strive to be more well-rounded."
After tambon Wangmee, the Dental Care Unit travelled to four other locations in Nakhon Ratchasima. Within the five days, the dentists had treated over 1,000 children. In forthcoming months, the Dental Care Unit will travel to Satun, Phatthalung, Chumphon, Surat Thani and Udon Thani.
A container truck transformed into a mobile dental unit.
