FORESTADENT is supporting the “Laila Taib Smile of Hope Project” and thus the honorary orthodontic care of poor and needy children in Malaysia.

Basic orthodontic treatment for a child in Malaysia costs between 6,500 and 10,000 MYR (about 1,600 to 2,500 €) and even more in more complex cases – a sum that will hardly ever be available for the poorest in the country and especially for the children living in orphanages. Yet here there is a sometimes urgent need for treatment.

This is now set to change with the “Laila Taib Smile of Hope Project”, an initiative of the Malaysian Association of Orthodontists (MAO) in collaboration with the government of the Malaysian federal state of Sarawak. This project, which was presented at the end of April during the gala dinner of this year’s MAO International Scientific Conference in Kuching, will in future support the honorary orthodontic treatment of orphans. Financed by donations – about 250,000 MYR (ca. 62,600 €) have already been collected – at least 20 children initially in one of the most frequented orphanages in Kuching will receive orthodontic treatment. The plan is for the project to be extended to all of Malaysia.

FORESTADENT, an international dental materials company, will provide the orthodontic material such as brackets, arches or bands free of charge. “We are very happy to be able to make a contribution to this important and hitherto unique project. May it be an example for many others”, says FORESTADENT managing director Stefan Foerster. Other companies, including representatives of the pharma industry, have already expressed interest in collaboration.

The selection of the little patients will be made by the former MAO president, Dr. Noraini Binti Hj. Alwi, according to dental urgency. Subsequent treatment, which will take an average of about 1 ½ to 2 years, will then be carried out by orthodontists from the vicinity of Kuching working in an honorary capacity.

The “Laila Taib Smile of Hope Project” was named after Datuk Amar Puan Sri Dr. Hjh. Laila Taib. The deceased wife of the acting premier of Sarawak, YAB Pehin Sri (Dr) Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, had been greatly involved in the social area during her life. Her daughter, Datin Hanifah Taib-Alsree, is patron of the project.

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Tel.: 49 (0) 72 31/4 59–0
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Caption to photo “Smile_of_hope.jpg”
The acting premier of Sarawak YAB Pehin Sri (Dr) Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud (2nd from right), his daughter and patron of the project Datin Hanifah H. Taib-Alsree (right) and the former MAO president Dr. Noraini Binti Hj. Alwi (centre) thank Irwan Susanto (4th from right) of FORESTADENT for its support.