Hundreds of people received free dental care in late-2021 thanks to the Trinity Koha Dental Clinic, which spent two weeks in Judea and Welcome Bay.

The success of an earlier five-week pilot programme to deliver free dental care in the region in June convinced those behind Tauranga Moana's medical aid ship that they must continue to offer the service to those most in need while they can.

Bay of Plenty adults who are living with constant oral pain that affects their quality of life were given another chance to receive free dental care if they also held a Community Services card.

The clinic resumed at Lifezone Church in Judea during October before relocating to Whaioranga Trust in Welcome Bay.

Altogether 223 patients were seen, equating to $115,284 in dental services provided. There were 156 restorations, four composite crowns, one root canal, 250 extractions and 11 surgical extractions.

'Some of the most common dental problems we see are actually preventable with proper oral hygiene. This is why we have a two-pronged approach; we take care of the problems patients are currently facing, but also prevent future issues through simple education,” says YWAM Ships Aotearoa managing director Marty Emmett.

Two new dental chairs donated by Trinity Lands with support from Ivoclar Vivadent were installed in to the clinics in September by Jamie Barrett from Timmark Services.

Christian humanitarian organisation Youth with a Mission Ships Aotearoa previously used their mobile dental containers to treat 463 local patients in June, delivering treatment worth $165,658 after Covid-19 prevented the M/V YWAM Koha from sailing to remote Pacific Island villages to fulfil its original mission.

Instead, the ship's mobile dental clinics were transported to Welcome Bay, Te Puke and Kawerau for what became known as The Trinity Koha Dental Clinic.

Marty says the organisation was blown away by the demand and the desperate need for oral health care that some people face.

'It was unbelievable to see the pain that some people are living with simply because they cannot afford to see a dentist,” says Marty.

'We feel obligated now to keep going based on what we've seen, because we've only just scratched the surface. We need to keep going. We will be holding more this year.”

The M/V YWAM Koha is berthed at Vessel Works beside Tauranga Harbour Bridge.

'While we're so grateful for the opportunities we've had here in Aotearoa to empower a healthy future, we have not ceased dreaming about fulfilling our hope of taking healthcare to isolated islands in the pacific. As a visionary organisation, there's a lot of joy that comes from both embracing the here and now but also looking to the future.”

Adult Community Services card-holders who are living with constant oral pain that affects their quality of life are invited to email the clinic team at: dental@ywamships.co.nz to register their interest. Or see: www.trinitykohadental.nz

Helen Wilson volunteering at the Trinity Koha Dental Clinic. Photo: Supplied.