Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Presents the Golden Phra That Phanom Award to the Royal Dental Unit under His Majesty the King for Outstanding Contributions to Public Oral Health

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously presented the “Golden Phra That Phanom Award” to the Royal Dental Unit under His Majesty the King during the graduation ceremony for the academic year 2567 BE (2024 AD) at Khon Kaen University. The ceremony was held on December 18, 2567, at the Golden Jubilee Convention Center, Khon Kaen University.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Ajiravudh Subhanbhesaj, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, Khon Kaen University, represented the Royal Dental Unit in receiving the Golden Phra That Phanom Award from Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn during the graduation ceremony for Khon Kaen University.

The Royal Dental Unit under His Majesty the King was officially established as a foundation on October 1, 2548 BE (2005 AD). Its primary objective is to honor the legacy of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and to provide access to quality oral healthcare for people in remote areas and underprivileged communities. The Royal Dental Unit offers treatment and preventive services through mobile dental units and promotes community-based oral health surveillance to encourage self-care. Additionally, it aims to educate the public on oral health, fostering positive attitudes and behaviors toward dental care, while empowering communities to monitor and maintain their own oral health.

The Royal Dental Unit under His Majesty the King, managed by the Faculty of Dentistry at Khon Kaen University, is responsible for providing services in the northeastern region of Thailand. Its operations, which cover remote and underserved areas, are carried out through collaboration between internal staff and alumni dentists. With clear and systematic goals, the unit has developed and innovated tools and equipment to enhance its service capabilities. These include portable dental chairs, oral examination lamps, dental filling kits, portable rinsing sinks, redesigned lamps, tankless saliva suction devices, and G-force-powered scaling tools.

These innovations have been accompanied by patent registrations, further strengthening the Royal Dental Unit’s capacity. The unit has also generated income by using its portable dental chair as a prototype for commercial production, which has been adopted by private clinics. The unit prioritizes improving the quality of life for patients and operates proactively by deploying mobile dental units to various provinces in the northeast and neighboring countries. Patients who receive initial examinations are referred to nearby hospitals for further treatment, in collaboration with local public hospitals. Over the past 20 years, the unit has provided services to 53,207 patients, offering oral health check-ups and treatments to people in remote areas across 22 provinces in northeastern Thailand and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. These efforts have significantly improved the quality of life for many patients and their families, enabling them to live independently and happily within their communities.

This prestigious recognition of the Golden Phra That Phanom Award brings immense pride and honor to the staff and personnel of the unit, who remain dedicated to providing exceptional academic and dental services to the people of northeastern Thailand without expectation of personal gain. Their unwavering commitment aims to enhance the quality of life for patients and contribute to society in a sustainable and meaningful manner.

[Thai]

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