Community Heroes: How Dentistry Students at Ajman University are Redefining Community Oral Care

Dental treatment is often considered the most expensive healthcare routine and with good reason. In the absence of adequate insurance coverage, it becomes exorbitantly expensive to get high-quality dental treatment, not just in the UAE but worldwide.

Students Doaa Al Omar, Abdel Rehman Abubakar, Abdulrahman Albasheer and hundreds of their peers from Ajman University’s College of Dentistry are redefining how dental treatment is perceived by patients in the UAE.

This can be evidenced in the high footfall and steady stream of patients that the AU Dental Clinic receives every day, which averages around 150-200 new patients.

“We treat a diversity of patients every day, belonging to various nationalities and financial backgrounds. We ensure that each one of them receives the same high-quality treatment and oral care that the AU Dental Clinic is renowned for,” says Abdul Rehman Albasheer, intern at the clinic and a graduate of the AU College of Dentistry.

Another student and intern at the clinic, Abdel Rahman Abubakar, adds, “Dental habits and types of teeth also vary with the patient’s origins and culture. Appreciating these finer nuances and tailoring the treatment as per the patient’s needs requires a fine balance of skill and patience.”

Compassionate care

Treatment at the AU Dental Clinic is free, except for an initial registration fee of AED 25. And while that could be part of the reason for the clinic’s popularity, it’s really the quality of treatment that resonates with patients more and makes them recurring patients of the clinic.

Mohammed Jamaal, a construction worker, suffered oral pain for three days due to a cavity. He was recommended the AU Dental Clinic by a colleague and friend. On being asked why he chose to visit AU Dental Clinic and not another private clinic, he said, “My friend had taken his treatment here and he was highly satisfied with the results. As a poor man, I cannot afford a private dental clinic that would charge a fortune for such a treatment. I chose the AU Dental Clinic for its high-quality oral care which is also free.”

Mohammed Abu Sufiyan, a building maintenance worker had similar feedback to share. Like Mohammed Jamaal, he too was referred to the AU Dental Clinic by a friend who was highly satisfied with the treatment he had received.

These are just a few stories of compassion from the hundreds that the AU Dental Clinic interns and students are helping create. Ably guided by their faculty, they are not just honing their practice at the clinic, but also literally putting smiles back on their patients’ faces.

High degree of professionalism

“It’s personally fulfilling to see a child relieved of oral pain after treating them. A simple toothache for a child can give the entire family sleepless nights,” says Doaa Al Omar, Intern and second year student of Master of Science in Pediatric Dentistry at AU College of Dentistry.

The pediatric clinic, which is separate from the clinic for adults, receives a variety of young patients every day, including those with special needs.

Doaa says one of the key differentiators for the AU Pediatric Dental Clinic is its high degree of professionalism. “We use the same type of advanced equipment, tools and software as any other high-end private clinic. For example, Clinicsoft is a very popular and expensive software in the dental industry, and we use it to document the treatment flow,” she says.

Doaa says the clinic prioritizes evidence-based treatment. “For each case, we have to discuss the treatment plan with our seniors and faculty, and give good reasons for justifying a particular line of treatment,” she says. This along with step-by-step documentation of each procedure ensures that the treatment is precise and transparent to patients and their parents.

It’s the human connect however that excites Doaa most about her work. “Catering to the oral care needs of young children, and those with special needs requires a lot of patience and skill. But at the end of the day it is also satisfying to see the smiles on their faces. Their innocence is touching,” says Doaa.

Mobile Dental Clinic

Ajman University’s Mobile Dental Clinic has become synonymous with innovation and outreach in community service. Featuring the most advanced dental equipment on a bus deftly converted to serve as a clinic, it makes regular trips to underprivileged communities and persons with disabilities in the UAE.

Whether it is an old age home in Dubai, a factory in Abu Dhabi or jail inmates in Ajman, the Mobile Dental Clinic provides the same level of care and treatment that they would receive in a regular clinic.

“Through this we not only reach out to disadvantaged people for their oral care needs, but also raise awareness about best practices in oral care and hygiene,” says Dr. Vijay Desai, Assistant Professor at the College of Dentistry and one of the people involved in this initiative.

“Despite it being both physically and mentally demanding work, our students are always keen to contribute to the initiative. They provide their services with great enthusiasm as it not only expands their learning, but also gives them a chance to connect with the community at a much deeper level,” adds Dr. Desai.

With such dedication and resolve to serve the community, AU’s College of Dentistry students are emerging as true heroes embodying the spirit of “Together, we can make a difference.”