Knitting With Purpose

“The Tooth And Nothing But The Tooth”

By Chris “Dr Smile Maker” Branfield

Knitting With Purpose

Hello again. I hope that you are well. Oh, what a month. My first time giving a speech at an International Medical Laser Congress.

Really exciting, if a bit daunting. It was OK once I got going with some great feedback, which was nice. My colleague and gum expert here at the practice, Ilay, was keynote speaker and started the dental part of congress.

Everybody seemed to know Ilay as he had trained many of them all over the world. There were other parallel sessions going on for other specialities including dermatology, gynaecology, aesthetics and male gento-urinary medicine. 

Ilay Maden

Some of the topics shown the timetable on the big screen in reception for some of these subjects made me wince. I made new, interesting friends from all over the world. I was sat next to Johnny Wong from Hong Kong. What a nice guy. In fact everybody I met was, really positive and enthusiastic.

Yours Truly

I made friends with people from India, Australia, Romania, Canada, USA, Israel, Slovenia, Italy, Hong Kong, England and Singapore. Mostly dental but also with other specialities. I spoke on the Saturday morning and there was a party the night before so there were less people than the day before. I was sensible and got a relatively early night!

Knitting?...Purpose?

Here we go, Branfield off on one again. Just stick with me this is really good. I have mentioned before that two lovely patients knit some fantastic clothes for children that we take to Morocco and send to Syrian refugees in camps and orphanages in Lebanon and Greece. 

Well, a Knit And Natter group in the area got inspired by this and they have been really prolific in knitting clothes and blankets for these needy people. I think that this is so great, people getting inspired to get involved doing good for people they don’t know who have nothing for nothing. That is what our Dental Mavericks Charity is all about.

Having A Catch Up Over Tea And Cake 

So, we finally met one sunny evening just recently as I wanted to say a personal thank you and show them what Dental Mavericks was about with pictures and tell the story of how it happened and illustrate with a few case study stories.

My colleague made the cakes that went down a storm (thanks Gail for all your hard work and organising). 

So, once again, a MASSIVE THANK YOU to the Knit And Natter group for your support and our anonymous patients for all that you do. I’ll be off to Morocco in October for a big project in the Rif Mountains. 

Becoming A Bigger Player

In the Lebanon Dental Mavericks have now a reputation for being very much people and caring based and making things as fun as possible in such awful circumstances. Now working with other NGO’s and even involved with research with King’s College, London and Harvard University, Boston, USA. Well done Cally Gedge for driving this and your energy and love. Well proud!

Until next time. Take care and be good.

Here’s to a good night sleep

Chris Branfield is Principal Dentist at Castle Park Dental Care, Castle Villa, 28 Castle Road, Cottingham, telephone 01482 772550.  He has been in dental practice for 25 years and has a special interest in life changing, pain free dentistry with dental implants, rapid teeth straightening and cosmetic dentistry. And, not only that Chris is founder member and trustee of Dental Mavericks charity- ending the daily dental pain of Moroccan kids. For more patient success stories and Chris’ humanitarian work go here now www.castleparkdental.co.uk