Kelantan records one of the highest prevalences of childhood dental caries in Malaysia viz. 74.6% among preschool children as reported in a study by Dolah in 2020. Dental disease in children can lead to pain, infection, poor nutrition, reduced school attendance, and diminished quality of life.

Despite this, minority and underserved communities such as the Siamese (Thai) community in Tumpat remain underrepresented in targeted oral health promotion programmes. Limited access to preventive education and early screening may contribute to untreated oral health problems.

As a dental student, I believe that oral health is closely linked to happiness, confidence, and overall wellbeing. Early, preventive, and community-based interventions are essential to create meaningful and lasting impact. 

Project Objectives: 

1. To improve oral health knowledge among preschoolers and schoolchildren among the Siamese community in Tumpat.
2. To conduct basic dental screenings for early identification of common oral health problems.
3. To transfer oral health knowledge to teachers and community leaders through Train of Trainers (ToT).
4. To assess oral health related knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) pre- and post- intervention among teachers, community leaders and parents.

Supporting Sawasdee Smiles is an investment in health equity and cultural preservation for the underserved Thai minority of Tumpat, a community currently at risk due to unknown caries prevalence and linguistic barriers to mainstream healthcare. By integrating clinical screenings with culturally resonant education—facilitated through the local Wat and bilingual resources—this project transitions from a simple dental check-up into a sustainable community ritual that protects children from the debilitating cycle of chronic oral pain and the subsequent financial strain on family livelihoods. Your support empowers a "pioneer intervention" that not only improves the immediate wellbeing and social confidence of these children but also establishes a scalable, data-driven blueprint for how modern medicine can respectfully and effectively serve Malaysia’s unique cultural enclaves.

The project will be implemented within 3-4 months through close collaboration with local schools, preschools, and community leaders within the Siamese community in Tumpat.

Key activities include:

• Pre- and post-intervention survey (questionnaire) to assess oral health related knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) among teachers, community leaders and parents.

• Train of Trainers 1 (ToT 1) which encompasses delivering lectures on basic oral anatomy, dental caries, gingivitis, healthy diet, oral diseases prevention, and oral hygiene education.

• Train of Trainers 2 (ToT 2) involve interactive dental health education and toothbrushing demonstrations to teachers, community leaders and schoolchildren.

• Distribution of basic oral hygiene kits to encourage daily practice.

• Construct a Wat-Based toothbrushing station for supervised toothbrushing activities.

• Basic dental check-ups to identify dental caries and other common oral conditions, with referral advice provided when necessary.

Expected Outcomes and Impact

• Improved oral health knowledge and awareness among teachers, community leaders and participating children.

• Increased adoption of proper oral hygiene practices.

• Early identification of dental problems, reducing pain and long-term complications.

• Enhanced happiness, confidence, and overall wellbeing among children.

• Stronger engagement between healthcare providers and the community.

Metric and Measurements that will be used to determine the success project

• Health Literacy Gain: We will administer Pre- and Post-Intervention Questionnaire. We aim for a 50% increase in average scores regarding the oral health knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP).