DENTICE, being a portmanteau combining "Dental" and "Service",  was established in 2014 by dental students at the University of Hong Kong, who are dedicated to serving underprivileged communities by promoting oral health. This year, DENTICE will collaborate with Cheerful Life foundation, a Thai NGO providing supports to low-profile individuals aiming to enhance their quality of life, to organize an outreach service trip to Bangkok in the coming summer. Together, we aim to provide necessary preventive dental treatments and oral health information to children and villagers in rural communities through the efforts of dentists and dental students in our team.

齒輪，其英文名字本身寓意“牙科”和“服務”。齒輪由一群香港大學牙科學生於2014年成立，一直致力透過服務弱勢社群以推廣口腔健康。在2019年，我們將與一個積極支援當地低下階層的泰國組織——Cheerful Life Foundation合作，於暑期籌辦一個泰國曼谷的牙科外展義工團。希望藉團隊內一眾牙醫及牙科學生的努力，為當地農村的兒童及村民提供所需的牙科治療及口腔健康資訊。

About Dentice 關於齒輪

Dentice is a sub-branch of the  Young Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Group of Hong Kong. In 2019, its core members are composed of 7 second-year to fourth-year dental students at the University of Hong Kong, and more dental student participants will be recruited for the upcoming service programmes. Students' services are supervised by teaching staff from the Faculty of Dentistry. 

In respect of local projects, since 2016, we have initiated several local projects to bridge the service gap and have served over 500, including migrant workers and refugees and intellectually disabled people.

In respect of overseas projects, since 2014, we successfully organised service trips to orphanages in Fujian, rural villages within Guangxi, Kunming, Cambodia and Sri Lanka. Overwhelmingly positive feedback has been received from all the abovementioned projects.

齒輪是香港口腔頜面外科青年團的一個分支，2019年的核心成員由7名香港大學二年級至四年級的牙科學生組成。其後的義工活動亦會招募更多牙科學生參與。所有學生的義工活動亦會在香港大學牙科學院的教職員監督下進行。

在本地義務工作方面，自2016年起，我們已籌辦過數次本地活動，旨在補足社會上存在的服務斷層。我們的服務人數已超過500人，當中包括有外籍傭工、難民和心智障礙人士。

在海外義務工作方面，自2014年起，我們已籌辦過數次外展義工團，服務地區包括有福建省內的孤兒院、廣西省內的農村、昆明、柬埔寨和斯里蘭卡。上述的所有活動都在當地社群取得不俗的迴響。

Video of Dentice Service Trip 2018 to Sri Lanka  2018年齒輪斯里蘭卡義工團影片

Service Objectives 服務理念

A 2016 survey on 509 selected primary school students in Bangkok showed a high prevalence of caries and gingivitis in their primary dentition, affecting 82.6% and 76.8% of the total samples respectively. Caries is not only a problem among children, which may have lower self-care abilities. A study in 2009 in Southern Thailand showed a high caries prevalence among the 30-39 and the 50-59, having a prevalence of 91% and 84% respectively. From the statistics, it is known that caries and periodontal disease are generalized oral diseases in Bangkok community. Compared to urban area, rural area faces even greater challenges due to generalized poverty and lower education level there. Many Thai scholars point out that there is a disproportionate access to dental services between rural and urban population in Thailand and more effort is needed to be given to rural area for fairer and more equal access.

Given the above situation, the objectives of our service are as follows:

1. To raise oral health awareness and promote oral hygiene among economically disadvantaged children and villagers in rural area of Bangkok.
2. To provide preventive and conservative treatments to economically disadvantaged children and villagers in rural area of Bangkok.
3. To show care and love to economically disadvantaged children and villagers in rural area of Bangkok.
4. To provide HKU dental students with overseas service opportunities and elicit passion to serve the community.

一份2016年針對509名曼谷小學生的調查發現，齲齒及牙周炎分別影響了82.6%及76.8%的乳齒，普及率偏高。小朋友固然可能因較低的自理能力而引致上述疾病，但一份2009年於泰國南部所做的調查發現，當地30-39歲族群和50-59歲族群中齲齒的普及率亦分別達到91%及84%，可見齲齒及牙周炎在曼谷地區為常見口腔疾病，它們不僅影響年輕一代，亦影響著成年族群。同時，相比起城鎮區域，鄉郊地區由於貧窮率較高及教育水平較低，因此於預防口腔疾病方面面臨更大的挑戰。當地學者指出泰國鄉郊地區未有足夠的牙科服務作支援，促使各界做更多工作令當地擁有更多及公平的途徑去接受牙科治療。

有見上述情況，本次義工團的理念如下：

1. 推廣並提高曼谷鄉郊地區貧窮兒童及村民對口腔衛生及健康的關注
2. 為曼谷鄉郊地區貧窮兒童及村民提供所需的預防性牙科治療
3. 向曼谷鄉郊地區貧窮兒童及村民展示愛與關懷
4. 為香港大學牙科學生提供海外義務工作的機會，藉此啟發他們服務社會的熱誠

Service Contents 服務內容

• Date: 7th-14th August, 2019
• Venue: Rural villages, kindergartens, slums in Bangkok
• Number of participants: 14-16(including at least 1 registered dentist)
• Target group: Economically compromised children and villagers
• Estimated number of service recipients: Around 400
• Treatments available: Dental screening, fluoride application, atraumatic restoration, oral health education, extraction, analgesics prescription
• Non-treatment activities: Academic & cultural interactions with Thai dental students, home visit to local families

• 日期：2019年8月7日-8月14日
• 地點：泰國曼谷鄉郊地區的村落、幼稚園及貧民窟
• 義工人數：14-16人（包括至少一名註冊牙醫）
• 服務對象：區內的貧窮兒童及村民
• 預計服務人數：大約400人
• 治療內容：基本牙科檢查、氟素施用、無傷性填補治療、口腔健康教育、簡單脫牙、處方止痛藥
• 其他活動：與當地牙科學生的學術和文化交流活動、家庭探訪活動

Use of Funding 籌款用途

We are fundraising to cover part of the expenses of our service. Funds raised will be used towards:

• Purchasing dental treatment kits and other materials (e.g. gloves, mask, gown)
• Providing oral hygiene aids (e.g. toothbrush, toothpaste) to children and villagers we serve
• Organizing interactive activities with Thai university students and local families
• Subsidizing our student participants on part of the programme and administrative fees (e.g. accommodation, meal, transportation, translation)

籌得款項將用於補助部分外展義工團的開支。款項將用於：

• 購買牙科治療器材及其他用品（如手套、口罩、保護衣）
• 向接受治療的兒童及村民提供潔齒用具（如牙刷、牙膏）
• 籌辦與當地大學生及家庭進行的交流活動
• 補助學生義工的部分活動及行政費用（如住宿、飲食、交通、翻譯）

Every dollar of your donation means a lot to our volunteers and service recipients. Your generosity is essential in encouraging us to continue our commitment and passion.  Thank you.

你的一分一毫對我們每個義工及服務對象而言都有莫大意義。你的慷慨是我們延續這份使命及熱誠的必要動力。多謝您的支持。

More About Us 更多資料

To learn more about Dentice, or if you encounter any difficulties in supporting us, please don't hesitate to email us or visit our Facebook page (link below).

想查詢更多有關齒輪的資訊，或遇上在捐款上有任何困難，歡迎以電郵或瀏覽我們的Facebook專頁查詢 (連結如下)。

Email 電郵: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dentice.hk/