Mahidol University Faculty of Dentistry (MUDT) recently organized the International Dental Conference, New Southbound Special Need Patient Oral Care.

This event was a collaborative effort with Chung Shan Medical University (CSMU) College of Oral Medicine in Taiwan, as well as four partner institutions in Thailand – Rajanukul Institute, WeCare Dental Clinic, Yuwaprasart Waithayopathum Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Hospital, and Autistic Thai Foundation.

The conference took place on August 17, 2023, in the meeting room on the 17^th floor of the 50^th Anniversary of H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Building at the Mahidol University Faculty of Dentistry.

During the conference, Clin. Prof. Dr. Sirichai Kiattavorncharoen, Dean of MUDT, delivered the opening remarks along with executives from each participating institution. Assoc. Prof. Apiwan Smutkeeree from the Department of Pediatric Dentistry also represented MUDT and presented during the session titled ‘Sharing the Current Status and Progress of Oral Healthcare in Bangkok, and Introducing Unique Thai Oral Healthcare.’ This session featured representatives from all the collaborating institutions.

In addition, Prof. Chia Tze Kao from CSMU presented a report on the achievements and objectives of the project aimed at promoting oral health care for individuals with special needs in Taiwan.

The conference was organized as part of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC), which has the primary goal of establishing a patient referral system, particularly for individuals with special needs. This initiative runs parallel to enhancing the dental knowledge and skills of dental practitioners and their support staff in related fields. The aim is to ensure that patients with special needs have improved access to high-quality dental services on an equitable basis. Furthermore, this collaboration aims to facilitate more short-term staff and student exchange programs and foster research collaborations.

Under the framework of this MoC, MUDT will play a central role as the main coordinator of the service network and will provide academic support in oral healthcare for special needs patients across four Thai partner institutes. This will be under the supervision of specialists with hands-on experience in providing care to special needs patients from Chuang Shan Medical University and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan.