Two dedicated members of a Northern Ireland community dental team are preparing for a life-changing journey to Morocco, where they will offer crucial dental care and much-needed supplies to underserved populations.
Jennifer Woods and Sarah Thornton-Roe, both professionals within a Community Dental Service under a local Health Trust, specialize in treating patients who face barriers to accessing routine dental care. Their work supports individuals with learning and physical disabilities, the elderly, and those who are housebound. In addition to treatment, their team provides education on oral hygiene, preventative care, and dietary guidance to promote long-term dental health.
This April, the duo will travel to Morocco as part of a volunteer mission with Dental Mavericks, a UK charity that has been delivering free dental care and oral health education to vulnerable communities since 2010. Their goal is to relieve children from untreated dental pain while educating them on proper oral hygiene practices. Many of these children live in remote areas with no access to professional dental care, often suffering from preventable conditions that impact their daily lives.
Jennifer, originally from Canada, shared her enthusiasm for the mission with Belfast Live: “We’ll be volunteering with Dental Mavericks from April 5, dedicating a week to providing urgent dental treatments, hygiene education, and vital supplies to children who otherwise have no access to care. The long-term vision is to establish a sustainable dental clinic for these communities in the Rif Mountains.”
The initiative will focus on treating primary school children, with an ambitious goal of reaching 1,000 young patients in just one week. The emphasis is on both immediate relief and preventive education to ensure long-term oral health improvements.
Reflecting on the significance of the trip, Jennifer added, “This is by far my biggest adventure, but together, we can bring smiles, relief, and hope to children who need it most.”
To support their mission, Jennifer and Sarah are actively fundraising to cover the costs of supplies and travel, helping to extend the reach of Dental Mavericks’ vital work in Morocco.
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