Page 18 - ICD Newsletter November 2022 Final Draft6

to note, by May 2022, 90% of communities we visited
had been affected by COVID-19, thankfully, with SAVE THE DATE
minimal complications.
2023 SECTION VIII INDUCTION
KDT’s emphasis remains strongly focused on CEREMONY & DINNER
preventive strategies, continually increasing fissure
sealing and early restorative care with diminishing
extractions and surgical care, but relief of severe pain
is unfortunately, a common request. We continue to
provide removable acrylic dentures in Halls Creek as
the hospital clinic has a small dental laboratory.

KDT continues throughout the year to supply the
children at the 44 schools across the Kimberley with
toothbrushes and toothpaste at the beginning of
every term and at the beginning of the end of year The next Section VIII induction
holiday. This is approximately 20,000 toothbrushes ceremony and dinner will be held at the
and paste. This is an expensive program to support International Convention Centre Sydney
BUT essential to prevent and reduce the Kimberley the evening of Tuesday, 26 September
community’s dental disease burden. 2023 at the time of the Australian Dental
Congress and the FDI Congress.
From 2009 when our initial services were almost
100% surgical (extraction of teeth) with almost no Invitations with full details will be sent
restorative care, to now, most patients and many to all Section VIII Fellows next year.
thousands of teeth have received non-invasive Enquiries: Dr Ron Robinson,
preventive care including fissure sealants, topical Section VIII Administrative Officer,
fluoride applications and prophylaxis/scaling admin@icdsectionviii.org
under the KDT model. Our aim continues to be
that all patients receive dietary advice and dental
health education with brushing instructions and
demonstrations. To supplement this, we supply M’lop Tapang Visits to
toothbrushes and toothpaste for all the occupants
of patients’ households and illustrate their relevant Resume in 2023
problems or our concerns using the KDT “Strong
Teeth, Strong Body, Strong Mind” booklet. There has been a prolonged hiatus in providing
volunteer dental treatment at the M’Lop Tapang
Having now completed thirteen years in the dental clinic in Cambodia. This was partially overcome
Kimberley, we are still very mindful of continuing by joining with Healthy Kids Cambodia for a broader
to nurture strong professional and corporate public health approach over the past two years.
relationships with ADAWA and UWA through the
John Prichard Memorial Prize, which provided seven The pandemic combined with two significant floods
awards to support all of this year’s students; the where the entire clinic was submerged resulting in
Rotary Clubs of Perth, Heirrison and City Rotary Club; significant loss of equipment and materials. It is very
the International College of Dentists; the Academy challenging to pick up the pieces and effectively start
for Dentistry International; the McCusker Charitable again. It is only through the ICD project recognition
Foundation; SDI; Colgate; the Maven Group; Dental and peer support that my energy has been revitalized
Health Services and many individual donors. to continue with enthusiasm. You realize that what
you are doing is worthwhile, to evolve and continue
Our willing volunteers, supporters and sponsors are to help those who are in desperate poverty.
highly valued and acknowledged. Without them, KDT
could not achieve what we do. Thank you During the volunteer trip in mid-November 2021,
we reviewed what equipment was working and
Dr John R. Owen AM replenished many consumables. Amazingly one
John.Owen@owenorthodontics.com.au of the two dental chairs survived the floods. We

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