A Field Trip in Penang Dental Clinic

Field Posting in Penang from 7th to 11th APRIL, 2014

DAY 1

On the 7th April 2014, we reported ourselves to Matron Keloy, our supervisor of the field posting at the administrative office of Klinik Pergigian Seberang Perai Utara at 8.a.m. sharp. We received warmth welcome from the staff nurses and the Matron. We were brought to a meeting room and served breakfast while waiting for briefing from the Senior Dental Officer (SDO). Unfortunately, the SDO was busy because auditors were coming for inspection. Therefore, introductory briefing session of the field posting was cancelled.

At around 9.00am, we visited the mobile dental clinic in Butterworth, which is a trailer parked at the office’s car park. There are 2 dental chairs inside, well-equipped with other necessary instruments and material for diagnosis and some simple restorative procedures. According to the staff nurse in-charge, this mobile clinic served its function since year 2002.

After that, we were brought to Sungai Dua Dental Clinic, where we were briefed by the YM on how a government dental clinic functions, with staff members as a team to provide exclusive dental care to the public. She also told us in brief about the quality system management which every government healthcare service should adhere.

In Sungai Dua, we visited a primary school, Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Dua, where we saw how dental nurses work to provide incremental dental care to the students. According to the dental nurses, they treat patient of age 17 and below. Procedures they do include restoration of decayed teeth; extraction of primary teeth and refer complex cases to the nearby dental clinic. They work in dental room provided in the school every morning; after that they will have to go back to the dental clinic in the afternoon.

Lessons learnt on Day 1

We should practise “Health for all”. Therefore, mobile dental clinic should be highly promoted as it is convenient to provide dental service to the public, to reach the...