Maryland Dentist Makes A Difference In Thailand
A dentist based in Maryland is making a huge difference in Thailand; Dr Usa Bunnag grew up in the USA after moving from Thailand at the age of eight years old and when she heard about the lack of basic dental care in her native land, she decided to set up a charity to improve the situation.
Dr Bunnag was working in a suburban practice in Maryland when she heard that 90 per cent of Thai people do not have access to dental care. She decided to establish a charity to help and Smiles on Wings has now been going for 10 years. The dental care group recruits volunteers to visit poor communities near the Burma border; the cost of the trip is covered by volunteers and Dr Bunnag meets the dentists in Thailand and then travels to the border with them via bus, truck and boat.
Dr Bunnag moved from Thailand when she was just eight years old and she trained Howard University and started to work in the suburbs of Maryland; she donated some of her salary to the Buddhist temple in Maryland and heard of the dire situation from one of the monks.
Smiles on Wings recruits volunteers from all over the world and their work is genuinely making a difference to people living in remote villages.
Peter Kovach joined the group in January and visited the school in Huay Sing to provide dental care for children. The group, which included Irish, American and Thai dentists, carried out a range of services, including extractions, fillings and sealant treatments. The children were also taught how to brush their teeth using a toothbrush.
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