Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has been concerned about the oral health of the people as she has aimed to develop the quality of life of the people living in rural areas, particularly of children and adolescents. To fulfill this purpose, H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Mobile Dental Service Center was initiated. The royal office has established a committee for the H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Mobile Dental Service Center since 1 May 1998.

According to the first meeting resolution in 1998, Mahidol University Faculty of Dentistry was assigned as the operation unit, in collaboration with the Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Office, Border Patrol Police Bureau, Provincial Public Health Office, local hospitals, and relevant institutions. They are responsible for planning the schedule to pay visits and provide dental services to the people in accordance with Her Royal Highness's graciousness.

More than 20 years under the project management, the center has provided dental treatment and oral health education to students and teachers in Border Patrol Police Schools, the schools under the H.R.H.'s initiative, and underprivileged people across the country.

In addition, the role model institution for the “Fun Dee Mee Suk” project (Healthy Teeth, Healthy Life) has been established (on the auspicious occasion of the Anniversary of H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn). The royal officials are trained to be role models having the knowledge to inspire people to sustainably maintain their good oral health.

H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Mobile Dental Service Center, Mahidol University Faculty of Dentistry (MUDT), provided monthly voluntary dental treatments, dental check-ups, disseminating knowledge in oral health care to the children, students, teachers, parents, and underprivileged people in rural areas, in order to control and prevent the spread of oral diseases by themselves. However, due to the outbreak of COVID-19, mobile dental services were temporarily suspended.

When the pandemic situation improved, the mobile dental service center resumes its services with the increase in protective equipment such as the N95 Respirator, personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as dental aerosol suction that eliminates aerosol generated from dental treatment. Currently, no evidence of COVID-19 infection has been reported from dental services.

H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Mobile Dental Service Center continues to provide voluntary dental services for 2 programs:

1. Regular Program:

Providing dental services according to the intended plan, following the Her Royal Highness Princess's visiting date, or whenever Her Royal Highness Princess would prefer. The Mobile Dental Service Center provides oral health check-up services, dental sealant, tooth filling, tooth scaling, tooth extraction, root canal treatment, and plastic-base removable dentures (occasionally) to students in the royal projects, Border Patrol Police School, and people in Thailand.

2. Special Program:

Providing dental services on the auspicious occasion of the Princess’s birthday anniversary.

2.1 Young Smile Ambassador Border Patrol Police Schools Project

As the Celebrations on the auspicious occasion of the Princess’s 60^th birthday anniversary on April 2, 2015, the project served the wishes of Her Royal Highness Princess on the operation of disease prevention. A group of student and teacher representatives from 215 Border Patrol Police Schools under the Border Patrol Police Bureau were trained as potential and knowledgeable young ambassadors in oral health care. They disseminated the knowledge gained from the Young Smile Ambassador Border Patrol Police Schools Project to students, school staff, and their families in order to improve oral health and provide strength to the people in the community, which will develop mutual benefits and sustainable comprehensive and welfare of the people.

The program was divided into 3 phrases:

Phase 1: fiscal year of 2015

Providing training and transferring knowledge of oral health care to a group of student and teacher representatives from Border Patrol Police School in order to increase oral health care knowledge, cultivate leadership quality, disseminate information, create understanding, and maintain a good relationship between Border Patrol Police Schools. (Number of participants: 597 people)

Phase 2: fiscal year of 2019

Providing academic training, focusing on clearly understanding and practicing, with the project’s name being changed to “Young Smile Ambassador Border Patrol Police Schools”. The training was based on the regions and Border Patrol Police Division. (Number of participants: 283 people)

Phase 3: fiscal year of 2020

Launching dental health promotion activities, in collaboration with the local community in order to encourage sustainable oral health care behavior. The activities, including hosting academic conferences and providing online media, were organized by Mahidol University Faculty of Dentistry to provide the participants with lifelong learning and effective application.

2.2 FUN DEE MEE SUK PROJECT (HEALTHY TEETH, HEALTHY LIFE)

Starting in 2019, 394 royal officials served as role models in good oral health. They received dental treatment, oral rehabilitation care, and transfer dental health knowledge to the people and show them how to maintain good oral health.

2.3 MEDIA PRODUCTION FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED PROJECT

Creating tactile books to provide oral healthcare knowledge to visually impaired patients in order to improve their quality of life and reduce inequality in access to educational resources.

The Bangkok School for the Blind in Thailand received these tactile books to use as educational media.

Program/project	Number of participants (person)
Program/project	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
1. Regular Program	9,965	13,587	9,030	8,970	5,202	6,162	3,761
2. Special Program
2.1 Young Smile Ambassador Border Patrol Police Schools Project			283	169
2.2 Fun Dee Mee Suk Project (Healthy Teeth Healthy Life)			394	96	32	332	306
2.3 Media Production for Visually Impaired Project						500	100