Kenswed Dental Clinic and TePe have collaborated with the University of Nairobi Dental School to provide free dental health care to schools in Ngong town and its environs.
After an initial evaluation, the clinic which is part of Kenswed Hospital, established that most students hailing from Ngong and the larger Kajiado county were suffering from dental and oral health-related problems and needed urgent intervention.
Kenswed’s community dentist Damaris Odulwa said they have embarked on a journey to offer much-needed services including dental fluorosis, whitening, filling, cleaning, extraction, root canal, partial removal, dentures, and mounts scaling especially among students in the various public and private schools in the locality.
“By partnering with the Swedish oral care company TePe, Kenswed Hospital has managed to give free and subsidised services to students in the Ngong area,” Odulwa said.
"The programme started six months ago and we have done over 45 fluorosis, root canals and scaling so far. TePe has helped us acquire modern facilities needed to carry out the procedures and have also been at the forefront in promoting good oral health care by donating toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes, which we distribute then distribute among the students and the larger community."
Dr Elizabeth Dimba from the University of Nairobi Dental School said tooth discolouration is a major problem in the entire Kajiado county and observed that the initiative should be embraced as she called on more partnerships to come on board.
“This project is a great initiative for the schools and students. These issues should be given the attention they deserve. We are glad that we, alongside Kenswed and TePe, have already made the initial steps in restoring smiles and confidence by offering free dental care to schools,” Dimba said.