Ripon dental team brings smiles to visiting children from Chernobyl
A dental team from Ripon has brought smiles to the faces of children visiting from Chernobyl.
Bupa Dental Care welcomed a group of children from the Ukrainian town as part of a project with Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline. The latest visit marked the seventh annual trip for the children. As part of the partnership, dental volunteers at the surgery provide the children with free check-ups, hygiene treatments and any other treatment that is required.
The visit is not just an opportunity for the kids to see a dentist It’s also a chance to learn about oral hygiene and to have fun. The practice team put on a host of activities and games and the aim was to encourage the children to learn about how to look after their teeth and gums at the same time as enjoying themselves.
Receptionist, Natalie Oddy, said that the effects of the Chernobyl disaster are still being felt, and the annual charity visit is an opportunity for the children to experience a new environment, to receive health and dental care and to enjoy a really fun holiday. It’s rare for children to get the chance to see a dentist at home.
Louise Hudson, Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline coordinator, said that the dental visits are hugely beneficial for the children, who have very limited access to dental care, and thanked the entire team at Bupa for being so accommodating. The charity is reliant on donations and the goodwill of businesses like Bupa, and the visits make such a positive difference to the children’s health and wellbeing.
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