His Excellency Prof. Dr. Abdullah bin Omar Bafail, UQU President, received the first report of the 'Makkah Smile' initiative during a meeting with the Dean of the College of Dentistry, Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Khutani, at Al-Abidiyyah. The initiative is being carried out by the College of Dentistry in cooperation with the General Directorate of Education in Makkah.

Dr. Al-Khutani clarified that the 'Makkak Smile' initiative, which involves field visits from the mobile clinics to public schools in Makkah, is targeting approximately 3000 primary-age students. He confirmed that the initiative aims to spread awareness of dental health among people, with a particular focus on primary-age students, to encourage them to take good care of their teeth.

Dr. Al-Khutani said that around 20 schools in Makkah have been visited by the mobile clinics. More than 1400 students have been examined, given fluoride treatments, and tooth decay and gum disease treatment. In addition, statistics on the rate of tooth decay and gum disease within the school community have been gathered, and the results analyzed to create a database of decay rates among children at various primary stages in Makkah.

Prof. Bafail had a look at the mobile clinics project at the College of Dentistry, how the clinics are technically equipped, and their role in serving scientific research and the community. He was accompanied by Dr. Al-Khutani, the college vice-deans, and the department heads.

The mobile clinics, which are equipped with state-of-the-art dental technology to ensure the highest level of research and treatment services to current international standards, are environmentally friendly and the best of their kind in the Middle East.

The mobile clinics team, consisting of academics and dentists from the College of Dentistry, has made more than forty visits to schools, charities, and villages in the surrounding Makkah region. Medical, field, research, preventive, and therapeutic surveys have been conducted. Awareness of oral and dental health has been spread, and about four thousand citizens have benefited from the initiative.

The two fully equipped mobile dental clinics contain medical equipment, desks, the latest digital radiography equipment, storage, ventilation and trash disposal methods that are safe and environmental friendly, and sterilization equipment.

Prof. Bafail expressed appreciation for the wise leadership's support of the educational process and the academic environment. He commended the way the mobile clinics are equipped, and praised their role in research and societal service, which is part of the university's societal responsibility. Moreover, His Excellency expressed admiration for the 'Makkah Smile' initiative that plays a prominent role in promoting scientific research in the field of dentistry. Finally, he wished the researchers, the field visit participants, and the 'Makkah Smile' initiative every success.