July 18, 2019

Dentaid is a dental charity that works tirelessly to improve access to safe, sustainable dental care in the UK and overseas. Dental nurses play a vital role in all of the charity’s projects and Dentaid has a variety of volunteering opportunities on its mobile dental unit in the UK, or as part of teams travelling to Uganda, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa and Cambodia.

Since it was founded in 1996, Dentaid has worked in more than 70 countries, running outreach dental clinics and oral health education programmes in many of the poorest and most remote communities in the world. In recent years, the charity has launched a growing number of UK projects that provide emergency dental care for homeless and vulnerable people and those who struggle to access NHS dental treatment.

Dentaid’s overseas projects involve equipping and supporting local dentists all year round. This is enhanced by regular volunteering trips where British dental professionals work alongside our overseas partners. Together they run outreach clinics in prisons, orphanages, schools, slum areas and remote community buildings, providing pain relieving dental treatment for hundreds of people a day. Oral health education is a key part of Dentaid’s work and the teams establish fluoride varnish and toothbrushing programmes for thousands of children every year. To find out how you can volunteer overseas with Dentaid visit https://www.dentaid.org/volunteering

Dentaid’s UK work continues to expand with a mobile dental unit that travels to day centres, homeless shelters and community centres providing free dental care for people who find it hard to access NHS dental treatment. Volunteers on the mobile dental unit recently provided free dental care for 320 people in Dewsbury, where many people are unable to access NHS dental care and there are long waiting lists for treatment. The mobile dental unit has been to schools, fishing ports, soup kitchens and night shelters all over the country, providing free dental care and oral health advice for those who need it. To find out more about Dentaid’s UK work visit www.dentaid.org/uk

There are many opportunities to get involved with Dentaid’s work. You could spend a day volunteering on our mobile dental unit in the UK, delivery the charity’s BrightBites oral health education presentation in a local school or join an overseas volunteering team for one or two weeks of hard work and adventure. Contact us on 01794 324249 or email info@dentaid.org  for more details.

Ellie Peacock in UgandaDentaid’s overseas projects

Trinity Clinic

Written by
Jade Monori