A vision shared

The aim of National Smile Month is ultimately to improve oral health through education and awareness raising. This corresponds closely with the work of Mercy Ships, an international charity which uses a hospital ship, currently docked in Madagascar, to deliver free health care and education to the world’s forgotten poor.

The Mercy Ships dental team know that a smile goes a long way, however, dental services are almost non-existent in many of the countries the charity visits. A major part of Mercy Ships work therefore focuses on oral health, treating around 55 patients a day, in addition to working to improve oral health in every country it visits through dental hygiene education and the training of local personnel.

Judy Polkinhorn, Executive Director of Mercy Ships UK, said: “We are really excited about partnering with the British Dental Health Foundation who have such a good understanding and appreciation of the work that Mercy Ships’ dental team carries out.