Chris set off on September 29, 2013 for seven hard, gruelling, yet fulfilling days. The destination: a remote school in a fishing village, with 650 children and a high intake of honey, sweet mint tea and no access to a dental health service that contributes to extreme dental decay and pain.
Chris Branfield is usually found treating patients in his comfortable practice in Cottingham, Hull, surrounded by modern-day dental equipment, running water and fabulous support team. Everything he could ever need.
Then something out of the ordinary changed his life, his career, his purpose in life.
In September 2010, he found himself taking part in something completely alien, different, uncomfortable, treating 150 Moroccan children. As well as seeing over 200 kids in El Jebah for extractions and fillings, this year the Dental Mavericks took on an additional project at Merchekala up in the Rif Mountains. This was the first time these children had been seen by a dentist and this was apparent in the number of bad teeth. The Mavericks saw and over 260 kids in this tiny village, ridding them of the misery of daily dental pain.
Chris said, “Truly, the most overwhelming experience of my dental career and a charity expedition I will never forget.”
He had been stunned by the sheer beauty of the unspoiled landscape, the friendliness of the people and the awful levels of decay in their teeth. There is no free or easy way to access dental care.
Chris is co-founder, trustee and clinical advisor, of the Award Winning Dental Mavericks Charity, who organise the annual expedition. He finances his own trip plus the revenue he loses while away from his business.
Cally Gedge, co-founder from Dental Mavericks Charity said, “This is our fourth year, and this Moroccan community now relies on UK dentists to rid them from the daily pain of decayed teeth.”
Chris is currently in talks with the Rotary Club, Hull, who are hopefully donating a considerable sum.
Chris’ practice manager, earlier this year took part in the Sahara Challenge and raised over £2,500, which is helping to fund a dental ambulance in the Mountains. This was a 250km cycle ride over five days. Gillian Fisher, practice manager said “this was an amazing week spent with an incredible group of people. We raised several thousand pounds to support the work of the Dental Mavericks and the memories of this special time will stay with me forever.”
This year the mission went a step further to another level. The dental Mavericks went to Merchekela, village in the Rif Mountains only accessible in a 4X4. The poverty here was worse and their teeth were in a really bad state.
The Dental Mavericks Team is growing and Chris now has more of a leadership and mentoring role as well as a hands on role.
This year there was a vote and Chris voted “The Most Inspirational Maverick”, overwhelmingly by the team. He is very proud of this.
The future looks good for the Mavericks. We should have our own vehicle or ‘Dental Ambulance” by May next year. They are also teaming up with other Charities in the area like Rif com. They plan to visit more villages next year to help end the daily dental pain of the children there.
The hope is still to have a dental health professional visit the children to promote dental health on a regular basis wit the help of the Dental Mavericks
If you’d like to view pictures of the beautiful Moroccan children, and videos, make any donations, or sponsor the ‘Dental Mavericks Teeth for Life’ programme, please visit www.dentalmavericks.org