Gulf Energy Development Plc. (GULF) made a generous donation of THB 8.5 million to the Faculty of Dentistry at Chulalongkorn University (Dent Chula) in support of ‘GULF Sparks Smiles’ initiative aimed at enhancing and solidifying a top-notch dental treatment program catering to the needs of the underprivileged and disabled, as well as to craniofacial prostheses fund for individuals with craniofacial anomalies. The donation ceremony took place at the ‘GULF Sparks Smiles’ offsite dental unit during its fourth and final installment of the year, hosted by the Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, in observance of National Dental Hygiene Day. For this time around, the initiative expanded its capacity to accommodate 1,058 individuals; 930 adults and 128 children, providing opportunities for walk-in registrations for various dental check-up services. The services offered included fillings, tooth extractions, scaling, fluoride coating, x-rays, and wisdom tooth extractions, accompanied by complimentary dental health knowledge and self-care recommendations.

Mr. Sarath Ratanavadi, Chief Executive Officer, GULF, stated “This initiative began in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak to address the challenge of limited access to dental care. During the unprecedented period, many hesitated to visit dentists. Recognizing the significance of oral health issues and their potential long-term consequences, GULF and Dent Chula collaborated to establish an offsite dental unit aimed at delivering free dental care to remote communities where public health centers are far and few. A team of volunteer dentists from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Dentistry facilitates this service and now in its third year, the initiative has garnered positive feedback from the community, improved their quality of life, and provided graduate dentists with practical experience outside the classroom. This program proves to be instrumental not only in expanding access to dental care, but also in offering dental school graduates career practice and on-the-job training. The opportunity also provided a morale boost, professional recognition, and motivation to the aspiring dentists and the assisting volunteer team.”

Prof. Pornchai Jansisyanont, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, added “Oral health issues are a significant concern that many tend to overlook. According to the statistics, only around 10% of the Thai population have regular access to dental care. Thus, the ‘GULF Sparks Smiles’ off-site dental facility plays an important role in raising awareness of self-care and oral health among the Thai people, as we also provide educational information while conducting these procedures. At the end of the day, seeking dental treatment after oral health issues have already arisen is not an effective way to address the root causes of these public health problems. If everyone understands the importance of oral hygiene maintenance and cavity prevention, it will lead to a good oral health in a long run and contributes to the overall well-being of their families and the community.”

Assoc. Prof. Niyom Thamrongananskul, Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, shared “Since their inception, offsite dental units have been dispatched to remote areas and brought smiles to rural communities. This initiative has also extended additional support for the Faculty of Dentistry’s craniofacial anomaly patients who require craniofacial prostheses. In addition to sparking smiles on these patients, another crucial aspect of our mission is to empower them with self-esteem, which will allow them to thrive in the society with confidence.”

Tontawan Tantivejakul (Tu), a 5th-year dental student, expressed, “The Faculty of Dentistry at Chulalongkorn University and GULF have jointly organized this campaign to offer dental services for the general public free of charge. I am delighted to be a part of today’s activities, as there are over a thousand patients receiving treatment. For those who are interested in this campaign, I encourage you to follow the Dent Chula Facebook fanpage, and please stay tuned for future GULF Sparks Smiles projects in the coming years.”

Since 2020, ‘GULF Sparks Smiles’ initiative has represented a collaborative effort between GULF and Dent Chula with the objective to deliver free dental care to individuals in rural regions and cultivate them with self-care mindset to prevent oral health issues and foster overall oral health wellbeing. This continuous program embodies GULF’s commitment to ‘Powering the Future, Empowering the People’, highlighting the company’s dedication to conducting business with the concurrent objective of enhancing the quality of life for others in the community and its stakeholders.

For the latest updates and information, please visit GULF Spark Facebook Fanpage at
Url: facebook.com/GulfSPARK.TH