The Royal Dental Unit under the Patronage of His Majesty the King

Background and Significance

The Faculty of Dentistry, Thammasat University, received Royal Permission to establish the Royal Dental Unit under His Majesty the Kings Patronage at Thammasat University on February 10, 1999. The unit was founded with the objective of carrying forward His Majestys royal aspirations and concerns regarding the oral health of the Thai peopleparticularly children with disabilities in foster homes, Buddhist monks, students, and underprivileged individuals in remote and underserved areas.

His Majesty expressed great concern for those suffering from oral health problems, especially those who experience tooth pain yet lack access to treatment due to the distance from medical facilities.

The Royal Dental Unit operates field missions twice a year within its own area and 6 to 10 times annually in remote locations. The operations are financially supported by the Dental Innovation Foundation under the Royal Patronage through the Royal Dental Fund in Honor of His Majesty the King.

ใIn the initial phase of its operations, the Royal Dental Unit under Thammasat University focused on providing preventive and operative dental care using the Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) technique. The primary target groups were preschool children, children with disabilities in remote schools, and those with limited access to dental services.

The units first dental outreach was carried out on October 21, 1999, at Ban Laem Hospital, Ban Laem Subdistrict, Ban Laem District, Phetchaburi Province. This activity was conducted in collaboration with the Princess Mothers Medical Volunteer Foundation (PMMV) to commemorate the National Dental Public Health Day. Since then, the Royal Dental Unit has continued its dental outreach services on a regular basis.

Thammasat Universitys Royal Dental Unit has consistently recognized the importance of community dental public health services and the widespread burden of oral health issues among the general population. Each year, the unit organizes both on-site and off-site dental outreach missions. The number of patients receiving dental examinations and treatment continues to increase with every mission.

Patient satisfaction with the services provided by the Royal Dental Unit has consistently exceeded 80% in every outreach. However, the number of dental treatments and services offered each fiscal year depends on the availability of dentists, dental nurses, and volunteers who participate in each mission. The greater the number of dental personnel, the more patients the unit is able to treat.

According to annual satisfaction surveys, the average rating has been consistently at a very good level. Patients have expressed high levels of satisfaction with the services and have shown great appreciation and pride in the Royal Dental Unit under His Majesty the Kings Patronage. Many have even requested the units return for continued dental outreach services year after year.

Over the years, however, the off-site operations of the Royal Dental Unit have faced several challenges. These include an insufficient number of dentists available for missions, lack of prior coordination with local contacts to prepare venues and inform target populations, shortage of chairside assistants and front-line support staff, and inadequate personnel to manage and prepare instruments and equipment for comprehensive service delivery.

Objectives of the Establishment of the Innovation Foundation under Royal Patronage

1. To act in accordance with the royal initiatives, royal wishes, and the benevolence of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the Ninth King of Thailand, towards the Thai people in the field of dental public health.

2. To honor His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej by disseminating his immense kindness and contributions to the dental health of the Thai people.

3. To support and promote the operations of the Royal Dental Unit under the Patronage of His Majesty the King.

4. To conduct research, development, and production of dental instruments, materials, equipment, medicines, and health products that meet the standard for public benefit, as well as to transfer technology for the production of dental tools, materials, medicines, and health products to the people.

5. To promote the development of the Foundation's personnel in management and academic fields, enabling them to use appropriate technology to enhance capabilities in education, research, and development, in line with the challenges in dental public health.

6. To support and encourage individuals, groups, organizations, and agencies in the innovation and development of dental inventions and innovations derived from Thai wisdom.

7. To carry out any dental public health initiatives that are beneficial to the public and the nation as a whole.

8. To cooperate with government agencies, organizations, and other charitable entities for the purpose of public welfare or charitable activities.

9. To refrain from any involvement in political matters.