Songpa-gu Neighbor Love Dental Volunteer Association Restores Smiles to Disabled for 25 Years

Songpa-gu Bangi Welfare Center's 'Iut Sarang Dental Volunteer Association' Provides Free Treatment for 25 Years Since 1998... Songpa-gu Health Center's 'Songpa-gu Dental Association' Donates Talent, Benefiting 10,000 People Over 11 Years

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] “One day, a visually impaired woman came in for treatment because her front tooth was broken. Her first words were, ‘Doctor, please make my front tooth pretty again.’ It was a shock to me, who had long been confident in treating people with disabilities. I had failed to understand her desire to look beautiful to others despite not being able to see herself. With a repentant heart, I treated her front tooth beautifully.”

This is what Director Kim Mi-ae, who has been providing free dental care at Songpa-gu Bangi Welfare Center for 25 years, said.

In this way, Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) is helping people with disabilities who find it difficult to receive dental treatment by offering free treatment opportunities through talent donation, helping them regain bright smiles.

Since the establishment of Bangi Welfare Center in 1998, Songpa-gu has created a ‘Dental Clinic for the Disabled’ to provide free dental care to people with disabilities who have had great difficulties in receiving dental treatment due to their disabilities.

The treatment is carried out through talent donation by the ‘Neighbor Love Dental Volunteer Society,’ composed of dental specialists. This volunteer group was formed by dentists active in Songpa-gu as well as dentists from other regions who joined forces. For 25 years since 1998, they have visited Bangi Welfare Center weekly to volunteer services such as oral examinations, scaling, and cavity treatment.

Anyone with a disability can receive treatment by making a reservation at Bangi Welfare Center, not limited to Songpa-gu residents. Above all, 70% of current patients are people with developmental disabilities who have difficulty cooperating with treatment or controlling behavior, making the need for help urgent.

Director Kim Mi-ae said, “Most of the disabled patients who come cannot express their intentions well, so they show their gratitude with tears. Each time, it pains my heart but also gives me great fulfillment. I plan to continue volunteering to sincerely embrace the hearts of people with disabilities and ensure they receive safer and more efficient treatment.”

Since 2010, the district has also focused on supporting dental treatment for people with disabilities in the region. This project continues at the Songpa-gu Health Center in cooperation with the ‘Songpa-gu Dental Association Volunteer Team (Songjeonghoe).’

Songjeonghoe consists of 12 private dentists in Songpa-gu who participate through talent donation. Shin Dong-ryeol, the president, said, “It was regrettable that people with disabilities often miss the optimal time for treatment due to economic reasons or prioritizing rehabilitation, resulting in severe conditions when they visit hospitals. We focus on helping people with disabilities continue treatment through free dental care.”

In fact, Songjeonghoe has been a great help to people with developmental disabilities who feel fear in new environments through steady volunteer activities for 11 years. Over the past 11 years, 10,000 people with disabilities have benefited from free treatment.

Starting next year, the scope of treatment will also expand. Currently, the focus is on examinations, cavity and nerve treatments, and extractions, but free prosthetic treatment will be made available to low-income people with disabilities. For related inquiries and reservations, contact the Songpa-gu Health Center.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, “I thank everyone who has practiced sharing through talent donation for a long time for neighbors marginalized in the community.” He added, “From next year, Songpa-gu will also expand support for socially vulnerable groups, such as increasing disability allowances, to create an inclusive city where everyone lives a healthy and happy life without exclusion.”