Title: Global dental outreach in Sri Lanka: Education, screening and multidisciplinary collaborations
Abstract:
Dental healthcare access varies widely across the world. In Sri Lanka, ongoing recovery from Civil conflict, economic challenges, and natural disasters has left significant gaps in oral health provision. This presentation highlights a dental outreach mission aimed at delivering essential dental care, resources, and oral hygiene education to communities with limited access to professional services. The initiative was conducted across two locations - Trincomalee and Batticaloa, located on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka – focusing on preventive care, screening, and oral health education. The first phase included a two-day medical camp in Trincomalee, during which mobile dental units were used to provide oral examinations and oral cancer screening. Patients received oral hygiene guidance, preventative care resources, and were signposted to local dental services for further treatment. The second phase in Batticaloa involved another 2 day medical camp along with a combination of visits to schools, orphanages, and care homes, delivering education and resources while reinforcing the importance of oral health across all age groups. This presentation demonstrates how targeted outreach can empower local populations, enhance understanding of oral hygiene, and facilitate early detection of dental and oral pathologies. It also emphasises the importance of collaborative, multidisciplinary efforts in global health initiatives, highlighting how international partnerships can support regions with limited resources. By combining education, clinical care, and community engagement, this mission aimed not only deliver immediate dental aid but also to lay the foundation for sustainable oral health improvement. Lessons learned from this initiative can guide future outreach programmes, contributing to the global effort to reduce disparities in healthcare access and outcomes. "The authors acknowledge that this research was undertaken during a two year Dental Foundation Training placement funded by NHS Workforce, Training and Education (WT&E), London Region".
