Avoca Beach Dental’s oral h y g i e n i s t Cassandra Jenkins is raising money to take part in a volunteer mission to provide dental aid to children in remote Tibetan refugee camps, located in the Himalaya region.
Cassandra, who lives in The Entrance, completed the Bachelor of Oral Health degree through the University of Newcastle and graduated in 2011. Cassandra’s interest in dentistry began when she was just 14 years of age, where she made weekly visits to her local dentist simply to watch and observe. This was the beginning of Cassandra’s growing enthusiasm and passion for all things teeth. The expedition in October will be her second trip, having spent time in Nepal in October last year with the internationally renowned Global Dental Expeditions. “It was an international team, and it provided a fabulous opportunity not only to facilitate dental hygiene and dentistry, but to liaise with team members from all over the world”, Cassandra said. “This year we will also be working in two Buddhist Monasteries where they have boarding schools attached for young aspiring Buddhist nuns and monks. “We will be providing toothbrushes and toothpaste, performing cleaning and fluoride applications and education sessions showing children in the refugee camps how to brush their teeth. “The dentist accompanying me on the mission will be performing fillings and simple extractions. “The education component is an incredibly important gift for these children, as we can do as many fillings as possible during our visit, but if the children don’t have the vital knowledge of how to keep their teeth clean, these problems will continue to occur,” said Cassandra. Cassandra will hold a fundraiser on Saturday, September 20, at Avoca Beach Surf Club. Local bands Little Earthquake and Paper Wolves will entertain the crowd, along with local singer/songwriter Joe Kalou, and a light supper is included with the ticket price. “All are welcome to come along for a relaxed night of entertainment and to support my mission,” said Cassandra. “I think it is a great opportunity to put a smile on the faces of kids who would not normally have an opportunity to access dental care and hygiene,” she said.
Media release,
27 Aug 2014
Ashleigh Milne,
Brilliant Logic