Incidence of periodontal diseases and cancrum oris (a devastating infectious disease which destroys the soft and hard tissues of the oral and para-oral structures) were prevalent and are still common in Nigeria. This, according to Dental Therapists’ Registration Board of Nigeria (DTRBN) was due to poor oral hygiene and lack of good nutrition in the early fifties. Accordingly, the high demand for oral healthcare led to an increase in the awareness of the importance and the use of preventive measure. This brought about the birth of Dental Therapy profession.
Lasisi Funke Ifebuche, the Founder of Funliving Foundation; a graduate of Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy, Enugu is currently leading #yoursmilemypriority. She speaks to GrassRoots.ng’s, Sandra Nnamemeka on the drive and how she developed interest in this area. Excerpt.
GRGuest: Can we have a peep into your background
Lasis: I am Lasisi Funke Ifebuche by name. I’m from Oyo state. I attended Holy child Nursery and Primary School, form Nursery to primary 4; completed my primary school at Airforce Nursery and Primary School, Independence Layout, Enugu. My secondary school was Command Day secondary school, Abakpa Military Cantonment, Enugu and my higher education was at Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy, Enugu; where I obtained my HND certificate.
GRGuest: What motivated you to becoming a Dentist?
Lasis: Funny enough I never planned studying a medical course (smiles), but among all the medical courses, I just had this love for dentistry. Maybe, because it’s rare and not rampant like medicine and as God will have it He gave me a course that was going to be in line with what He wanted me to do in life for Him. The motivation to keep up with this course grew with time and my passion developed and got stronger when I observed with experiences that this part of the world, Nigeria and Africa at large aren’t so enlightened which got me pushing and taking care of people’s teeth and oral health got me fulfilled one way or the other (#yoursmilemypriority)
GRGuest: When did you start the biz?
Lasis: I started my business officially on oral health this January.
GRGuest: How has the business sustained you financially?
Lasis: Being a dental therapist is fun, talking about finances, I’ve been able to make some good cash from my profession. Atleast I can carter for my daily basic needs, and grow my foundation.
GRGuest: Is your biz on social media? If yes what media handles are you leveraging on?
Lasis: Yes, my business is on social media. Facebook – smilecare clinic. Instagram handle is @smilecare_clinic. I’m also running a promo for the first 25 followers on the page. Followers will get free consultancy and services at a discounted price. I’m also mobile, to book for appointments you can get us on >> 07081692060
GRGuest: How old are you? We realised you run a foundation, what isn’t all about?
Lasis: I’m 22+, will be 23 this October by God’s special grace. Yes I do have a foundation whose name is @funliving foundation. Now the birthing of the foundation was inspired by the passion and vision of helping children(abandoned) and less privileged, especially the children, cause I feel when a child is affected, the adult is affected in the long run which are the causes of the touts in our society today, unhappiness and so on,. Also the passion I’ve got to enlighten people on their oral health also inspired me as I thought of being of help by rendering my services as a dental therapist to schools, communities, corporate organizations. In the long run the foundation has got the intentions of empowering youths, adults in the best way we can.
GRGuest: How can one access your services? What are your charges like?
Lasis: Dental therapy is one of the branches of dentistry which is known as preventive dentistry, so as a dental therapist I render preventive services that is identifying and stopping the progression of oral diseases and these services include- scaling and polishing(washing of teeth), oral health instructions , diet instructions, gum/gingivae treatment.
First of all before a client is charged based on the rate of deposits and condition of the individuals oral health and also Since we’re mobile(that is rendering our services @your doorstep), we charge based on the location. But u can be sure that we’re affordable
GRGuest: How often do you advice we have oral treatment and what are the basic tools to acquire for a healthy oral care?
Lasis: It is advised that everyone not restricted to adults alone especially children should visit the dental clinic twice a year that is every 6 months. Some people might ask why?? Even when they are no deposits seen? Now for instance oral conditions like malocclusion which is when the teeth of a child is protruding can be corrected easily before adulthood which wouldn’t have been so., and the accumulation of the oral deposits especially in kids due to the nature of things they eat at their age will be reduced which helps reduce bad breath and other oral diseases and improves our oral health.
To maintain a good oral health one should buy toothpaste which contains fluoride, good toothbrush (for adults – medium texture and children – soft), use of dental floss. They are so many but let me stop here for now
GRGuest: In the next 3yrs will you still be in this biz? Can you brief us your intentions with this business or is it a temporary thing or long term vision?
Lasis: Wow! Talking about this profession, I’m in it full time. In 3years time I see myself having one of the best dental clinics and will improve myself because I’ll like to further in dental therapy
I also see myself going global by impacting lives through my foundation.
GRGuest: What can you say about the knowledge gained in school, would you say the education system in Nigeria fetched you wealth of experience in this field?
Lasis: The knowledge I gained in school has really helped me. At least I’m now a certified dental therapist which I wouldn’t have become without the knowledge I gained, the educational system in Nigeria isn’t so impressive cause I remember back in school days, some people will stand while some will sit to receive lectures that would last for hours and a whole lot of it. I’ll say that it takes a willing heart and a teachable spirit to learn. But all the same I’m grateful to my alma mater for impacting in me so much knowledge about oral health and also about other areas of life. Thanks FCDT&T, Enugu.
GRGuest: How often should people go for oral tests?
Lasis: Individuals, families should go for routine oral check-up twice ever year that is every 6 months
GRGuest: In developed countries people usually have budgets for things like this, but in Nigeria what’s your observation?
Lasis: This is so true. I observed in a country like Germany, the dental professionals are paid so well even more than the nurses. Insurance for oral health abroad is expensive compared to general health. But in Nigeria especially the eastern side, it isn’t valued at all. People only come to the clinic when they have tooth ache or a swollen jaw which wouldn’t have been so. The reasons I think oral health isn’t valued here is due to our beliefs and some myths. So observing this was one of the major reasons why my foundation was birthed, to enlighten people so that we can have a society where oral health is valued and known. This is because our mouth is the gateway to the body, what affects the mouth affects the body.
GRGuest: What are the health implications of not embarking on oral tests?
Lasis: The health implications of not going for routine dental check-up are numerous. For example dental caries(hole on the teeth), halitosis (bad breath), gum infection (gingivitis), oral cancer (yes! To those that may be surprised, there is oral cancer) etc to mention a few.
GRGuest: What should people expect from your foundation this year?
Lasis: Expectations from my foundation this year will unveil with time, but expect to see my foundation impact lives by creating better lives for them, not just through our oral health programs but also by identifying a need in an area/individual and solving it. We hope to go to all the states in Nigeria and also Africa.
GRGuest: How lucrative are job opportunities for young people in this field?
Lasis: Job opportunities are good somehow. Some challenges we face are the hospitals that pay well during our internship are very few and some don’t even pay at all which to me isn’t nice at all and then after the internship which last for a year very few maybe retained and the rest aren’t thereby they venture into other aspects of life cause the dental hospitals are very few. All this still boils down to the ignorance of oral in this part of the world.
Thank you so much grassroot for your time as well and for also giving me the opportunity to enlighten the public.