Dr. Terry Teo calmly and patiently coaxes a MINDS patient to open his mouth for dental treatment. (Photo by Feng Gui Qiong)
It was a sunny Sunday afternoon, and a team of 84 Tzu Chi volunteers and members from the Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA Singapore) lined up outside the Tzu Chi Free Clinic in Redhill, wearing caps attached with various stuffed animals and donning colourful balloons. They stood in anticipation, all set to welcome a group of 21 students from MINDS as well as their accompanying parents.
On this day, 11th October, TIMA Singapore held its ninth annual free dental clinic for MINDS students, mobilizing the largest number of volunteers and serving a record number of intellectually impaired patients in the past 11 years, with the cumulative number of treatments for MINDS patients reaching 106.
These patients tend to exhibit negative emotional reactions like fear and anxiety when faced with an impending dental treatment. To help soothe and calm them down, the volunteers had packed in many fun activities for them, such as passing table tennis balls, bowling, magic show, making ‘Thank You’ cards, etc.
Helping to allay patients’ fears
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you......"
Bursts of the birthday song emanated from the dental treatment room, but it was not because somebody was having a birthday. It was, in fact, one of the tricks used by the volunteers to relieve the tension and anxiety experienced by the MINDS patients. A string of nursery rhymes punctuated by hand-clapping and occasional shouts of encouragement were also the order of the day.
A group of volunteers from MINDS crowded around the dental chair where the first patient lay, bent on distracting him from his feelings of distress. They coaxed him to open his mouth for just ten seconds or so each time, so that the attending dentists could treat him.
"One, two, three, three and a half, three and three quarters......" As the volunteers counted slowly and deliberately (in order to help keep the patient’s mouth open for a longer time), the dentists worked quickly with deft hands.
After much effort, the dental team finally finished treating their first patient, and all were relieved, but then they had to ready themselves for the next patient.
In order to prevent injury to the patients as they struggled and wriggled about, more than four volunteers had to firmly hold onto each of them. Their parents were also by their side, trying their best to soothe and comfort them as they were undergoing treatment.
As each patient walked out of the dental clinic, the volunteers cheered loudly and happily, in part to encourage and reassure the rest of the patients so that they would not put up too much resistance when it was their turn to see the dentist.
Parents grateful for the peace of mind
Although parents no longer have custodial rights over their children when the latter attain adulthood, it is only natural that they will want to protect and care for them, even after they have grown up. This is especially so for the parents of MINDS students ─ they will never leave their children to fend for themselves.
"As parents of children with special needs, we will sometimes feel physically and mentally tired ─ we have to take care of them and also endure the odd looks from others. But when I bring my child to the Tzu Chi Free Clinic, I would feel a sense of emotional support,” said one of the parents, Mdm Cheong Xiu Yun.
This was the third time that Mdm. Cheong brought her son to Tzu Chi’s free dental clinic. Because her son suffers from epilepsy, most dental clinics refuse to treat him. But after coming to Tzu Chi Free Clinic and seeing how the dentists and volunteers treated her son with great care, she felt very much at ease and now looks forward to the visit every year.
Due to the limited number of vacancies available, she was worried that her son might not have the chance to come to the free clinic this time. When she was informed of the good news that her son was accepted for treatment, she was so happy that she could not fall asleep on the night before.
Choking back tears, Mdm. Chen Shunlian, who faced the same dilemma as any other parents of MINDS students, related her frustration: "I am at a loss whenever my child suffers a toothache, because taking her on a visit to the dentist may not be smooth-sailing, and sometimes no treatment could be rendered." Mdm. Chen once took her daughter to a clinic to do a blood test, only to be refused treatment because they did not have enough manpower to cope with a struggling child who could fracture a needle in the process.
Mdm. Chen is grateful that Tzu Chi is able to take care of her child's teeth, which gives her a peace of mind. She has witnessed the sincere efforts of the dentists and volunteers at the free clinic, and never fails to make a contribution whenever she sees Tzu Chi volunteers holding street fundraisers for victims of disaster. This day, the volunteers even celebrated her daughter’s birthday at the free clinic, which touched her deeply.
Crossing boundaries to help vulnerable groups
TIMA dentist Dr. Sharon Kwek Xue Rong is a Christian, and she works at the National Dental Centre. However, she has no qualms about helping out at a Buddhist free clinic. "We are here to help patients as professionals; we are not here to preach (religion), so I am not concerned about what religion or race those I’m helping are. We are all human beings and should not differentiate between one another."
Although Dr. Kwek did not possess a lot of experience in serving at a free clinic, she was able to work confidently with the help of the many volunteers.
"Today I have witnessed the active participation of many Tzu Chi and MINDS volunteers, and I am very pleased to know that there are many charitable organizations serving the needs of a group of individuals that could have been overlooked or side-lined in society," she shared.
"Eighty-two volunteers have come to the free clinic today, which is a Sunday, just for the purpose of serving 21 MINDS students," TIMA dentist Dr. Faisal Abdul Aziz remarked in disbelief.
Although there are challenges in the provision of dental care to mentally impaired patients, Dr. Faisal felt very fulfilled volunteering at the free clinic. "As the population ages, demand for dental care has increased, this is especially so in the case of disadvantaged groups who are less likely to receive complete dental care in normal clinics. So I feel that I should volunteer my services to help those in need outside of my normal working hours.”
Persevering with love
The dental recruiter for this event, Dr. Terry Teo Kuo Yih, said, "I pray and hope that I can participate in the MINDS free clinic every year."
Dr. Teo recalled his first experience: "Because there were sufficient volunteers at that time, and the dental treatment (for all the patients) proceeded rather smoothly and quickly, we decided to increase the number of patients and recruit more attending dentists this time.”
Dr. Teo recruited a team of 13 dentists who had just graduated from local as well as overseas institutions, and personally guided them as they worked. He hoped that these new TIMA dentists could learn from and be inspired by the experience.
Choking back his emotions, veteran TIMA dentist Dr Eugene Tang Kok Weng, who was also the chief coordinator of the MINDS dental clinic, related, "Having operated the free dental clinic for MINDS patients for eleven years, we see how these children have grown up. Some of them are already in their twenties. I am really grateful for the opportunity to continue to ‘be the light’ for these kids ......"
Dr. Tang came to know about Tzu Chi at the funeral service of his classmate, Dr. Ling Sin Yew, who was one of the first few TIMA members in Singapore, and had passed away of pancreatic cancer in 2004. Dr. Tang vividly remembered Dr. Ling telling him that one should regard oneself as a candle, burning oneself in order to illuminate others, and that as long as the candlelight is not extinguished, the candle must continue to burn to light up the lives of others.
Having organised the annual free dental clinic from 2004 to 2015, Dr. Tang had never once thought of ending this service. Instead, he only hoped to improve on the existing programme so that the team could do better the next time round. He perseveres not only because he knows that these students with special needs will find it difficult to seek treatment outside, but also because he empathises with their parents, who painstakingly take care of their children without any grouse or complaint.
Eighty-four volunteers and TIMA members lined up outside the Tzu Chi Free Clinic to welcome 21 MINDS students and their accompanying parents. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
Tzu Chi volunteers designed different types of games for the patients in order to distract them from their fears and so that they could feel relaxed in a fun and joyful atmosphere. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
MINDS students who completed treatment were immediately greeted with applause and praises, and volunteers who were dressed as cartoon mascots would give them a hug to encourage them. (Photo by Dr. Eugene Tang)
"As parents of children with special needs, we will sometimes feel physically and mentally tired ─ we have to take care of them and also endure the odd looks from others. But when I bring my child to the Tzu Chi Free Clinic, I would feel a sense of emotional support,” said one of the parents, Mdm Cheong Xiu Yun (second from left). (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
Mdm. Chen Shun Lian ( first from left) helps her daughter put on finishing touches to a ‘Thank You’ card for her dentist, with the help of a TIMA member. (Photo by Feng Gui Qiong)
Although there are challenges in the provision of dental care to mentally impaired patients, Dr. Faisal (first from left) felt very fulfilled being able to serve them. (Photo by Pua Poo Toong)
Dr. Terry Teo ( first from left) recruited 13 fresh dental graduates to volunteer at the free dental clinic for MINDS patients. (Photo by Feng Gui Qiong)
Coordinating the MINDS dental clinic for the ninth time, Dr. Eugene Tang (second from left) saw how the MINDS students have grown to adulthood, and felt grateful and blessed that he was still able to stay by their side. (Photo by Feng Gui Qiong)
Dentists at the free clinic personally taught the students how to maintain good oral hygiene, and demonstrated correct tooth-brushing techniques using dental models. (Photo by Feng Gui Qiong)
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