Dentists from Namibia and the United Kingdom have united to put smiles on and educate vulnerable communities on dental health.
The teams went as far as the Usib farm outside Rehoboth and ended the dental tour at the Orlindi Place of Safety for children in Windhoek.
Organised by the National Dentists of Namibia and Mobile Smiles in the UK, the weeklong outreach focused on oral health to boost self-esteem.
The aim, they said, was to bring oral health services closer to people, targeting those who are far away from health facilities. The outreach also included visits to schools and clinics.
"Oral health is a cardinal part of the general health of a human being. Oral health is an area that shows us what your overall health looks like. And it's just something that we are so passionate about because it's basically what boosts your esteem as a human being," explained Dr. Rachel Geingos, from the Ministry of Health.
NBC News caught up with the team at Orlindi Place of Safety, where they educated the children on how to take care of their teeth, further applying fluoride varnish to protect them.
The event was not just about dental care. The medical doctors also enjoyed some time with the children, with activities that included face painting.
Dr. Rishi Daggar from Mobile Smiles explained that "We provided all different modalities of treatment and pain relief. We've treated patients who have needed dental care since they were nine years old and are coming to us at 60. We've restored smiles, and we've also connected with people. We found out about their stories. You know, it's not just providing that care to the tooth. It's seeing the patient as a whole. And that's something that I think we'll all take away from this trip."
Dr. Dexter Nyambe from the Ministry of Health expressed satisfaction with the project. "It was quite a good experience for all of us, I believe, because the setup is also completely unique. We have to make do with what's available in the villages, as there are no dental chairs. So we engaged the communities specifically with oral health."
The team treated about a thousand dental patients in Windhoek, Okahandja, Rehoboth and surrounding areas, most without any dental treatment background.