Smile Menders Founder Takes to the Road

In May 2008 New Zealander Brendon Ball and his Ukrainian-born wife Natasha will embark on a round-the-world journey by motorcycle which will end at the Annual World Dental Congress in Stockholm.

15 October, 2007

As some readers may know, Brendon graduated from Otago University before working in its hospital department. Today he is co-founder of the dental charity Smile Menders which has, to date, supplied 3 surgeries to the Cherkassy region of Ukraine. When he’s not working on Smile Menders’ projects, he runs a mixed National Health Service / Private Practice in Swindon, UK.  

With sponsorship from Medical Sickness, a UK based dental insurance company, Brendon travelled to Germany in March 2007 to take delivery of a BMW motorcycle to enable him to undertake the project. He is looking forward to many miles of happy motoring though is well aware of the condition of roads in some countries through his experience of delivering dental aid overseas.

The aim of the journey is to raise awareness of the challenges faced by families affected by the combined effects of radiation and poverty. Brendon, who has assisted in the dental care of "Chernobyl Children", states "My intention is to visit some dental schools along the way, in particular dentists in Hiroshima and Nagasaki to compare notes on what I have learned about problems faced by the children and carers of those affected by nuclear fallout". The couple will be riding around the world through Canada, Japan and from there to Vladivostok in Siberia before returning to Europe to present a paper at the Stockholm conference. There, he hopes to be able to share a bit of humour and some of the frustrations involved in the delivery of dental aid and to let other dentists know how feasible it is to help dentists & their patients in other parts of the world. When asked if he would be stopping off in New Zealand, Brendon answered "Sadly, I’m unable to pay a visit to my homeland on this occasion. I feel it's important to limit my impact on the environment and to focus solely on the work of the charity. Besides, a fleeting visit is never enough. On the far too rare occasions when I do come home, I like to ensure that I have plenty of time to relax and catch up with friends."

Before donning their leathers and helmets in readiness for the 2008 road trip, Brendon and Tasha made a flying visit to Ukraine this September to revisit the Smile Menders’ clinics and to present them with a cheque for 12,250 hryvna (NZ$3,150) for restocking the surgeries. On his return Brendon commented on the rate of change in the cities. Increased car ownership has resulted in busy streets and the opportunity to witness at least one collision each day. Seeing debris and blue lights on three consecutive junctions demonstrates the problem!

Dentally, on the face of it, there have been signs of improvement with modern restorative materials and techniques being readily available. On the downside, costs restrict their usage to private clinics and, worrisomely, the country is being swamped with fake drugs and materials. These are in packaging identical to the original manufacturers. Stomatologists in both Cherkassy and Kiev expressed their disappointment that many instruments are poor copies of respected makers, with tales of bendable elevators and rubber dam clamps made from mild steel. Brendon likens life in Ukraine to the Wild West, with the oligarchs (phenomenally wealthy entrepreneurs) seizing every opportunity to climb over the bodies of anyone in their path. "It is galling to know that we are compelled to spend many days with customs protocols bringing legitimate aid, whereas the oligarchs have their own paths swept clear with a swath of bribes." On a positive note, however, the clinics set up by the charity have made such an impact that the Ukrainian government has now started sending Ukrainian-made mobile units to all Oblasts. This, in Brendon’s view, "is the best demonstration ever that we have done something of real value".

Two UK dental students from Bristol University, Eleri Jones and Claire Forbes-Haley, recently returned from Cherkassy, having conducted their electives through Smile Menders. Whilst they enjoyed experiencing the culture, customs and food of Ukraine, they were concerned by the latest DMFT study recognised by WHO (1992) for the region showing that 12-year-olds had a mean DMFT of 4.4. The WHO target for the year 2000 was a global mean DMFT of no more than 3 for 12-year-olds. According to the study, approximately a third of the area considered rural does not have a nearby health care facility. Ukraine as a whole has 4.1 dentists per 10,000 of the population. What becomes clear is that there is still work to be done.

Unfortunately there is no side-car attached to the motorcycle to accommodate any more enthusiastic travellers, but if you can help the charity in any way please contact Brendon Ball at Smile Menders.

Further Information

Smile Menders
The Dental Practice
Freshbrook
Swindon SN5 8LY
UNITED KINGDOM

Tel: +44 (0) 1793 873044
Fax: +44 (0) 1793 882452
bb@smilemenders.org