Charity provides dental care and training for annual health conference

The Pacific Smiles team attending the 23rd Annual Cook Islands Health Conference is on a mission to not only provide immediate dental care, but also to equip local dental professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to maintain long-term oral health improvements.

The organization, led by endodontist and group chair Dr. Abdul Aziz, focuses on providing treatment, teaching and training for dental professionals in the Pacific Islands.

The New Zealand-based charity has been working to improve dental health in the Pacific for the past 12-13 years.

“Our role is to treat, educate and train the people of the Pacific, that’s why we are here (convening the conference),” Dr Aziz explained.

“Being from Fiji, I know what the islands of the world are like and how hard our islanders work to get the right treatment, no matter what it takes,” Dr. Aziz shared.

One of the most important innovations launched during the visit was silver diamine fluoride, a revolutionary product designed to treat tooth decay in children without the need for drilling and fillings.

“It’s more like trying to paint it on in the hopes that that will stop the decay, prevent it from progressing further, and make it easier to repair, which buys us a lot of time before we need to do something else,” Dr. Aziz explained.

In addition to dental training, Pacific Smiles is eager to collaborate on broader public health initiatives.

Dr Aziz praised the Cook Islands Minister of Health Rose Toki-Brown and her department for their efforts to reduce consumption of sugary drinks, noting that the move could have a significant positive impact.

“I’m sure it will help in working with the Cook Islands and helping you implement that fantastic initiative that your minister has mentioned so perfectly, which I think will make a huge difference,” he said.

The organization takes a community-centered approach. They do not impose external philosophies, but rather work to understand and address the specific needs of each island.

“We have always been adamant that we don’t go to an island and instill what we think is a good idea. We go to each island and we want to learn from you and see how we can best help you,” Dr. Aziz explained.

During their visits, the team runs conferences, hands-on training sessions and practical workshops for local dentists and oral health professionals.

“This was just a conference, however, we did provide hands-on training for dentists.”

Workshops cover a range of dental procedures, from basic dental hygiene to advanced surgical techniques.

“We have a periodontist, a gum specialist, who will take all the dentists and teach them how to scale their teeth and how to clean them properly,” Dr. Aziz said.

His vision has always been to improve the quality and skills of the local dental workforce.

“If we can improve their skills, it will help the people on the island so they can have better oral health, and the better your oral health, the better your overall health,” he stressed.

Despite challenges with funding and access to resources, Pacific Smiles thrives on the dedication and passion of its volunteers.

“All the people you see, they come from different parts of the Pacific, they are all volunteers, they pay their own way to be here, no one is paid or compensated for their time here, they love it because it comes from their heart and that is our greatest asset.”

The annual conference, which concludes today, focused on three main issues: oral health – connecting mouth to body; non-communicable diseases – the future of health; and the workforce – strengthening and well-being.

The conference was hosted by Fiji’s Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health and the Fiji National University Medical School’s School of Dentistry and Oral Health, with support from the World Health Organization, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and Air Rarotonga.