The Sirindhorn Dental Museum, the first and largest dental museum of its kind in Asia, was opened last week by Mahidol University to help educate Thai people, especially children, on proper oral health.
The 620-square-metre museum is divided into five main exhibits and uses interactive technology to improve understanding of the importance of good dental health, said Phira Sithiamnuai, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at Mahidol University.
"Our goal for the museum is to encourage Thai children to understand the importance of oral health in an entertaining way. We hope that learning with fun will inspire people to make healthy choices about their oral health," Dr Phira said.
"We want to ensure that Thais will have a healthy smile in our 'Land of Smiles' for as long as possible."
The first museum zone hosts an exhibition in honour of His Majesty the King, and pays tribute to the Royal Family's support of Thai dentistry, he said.
The second zone hosts an exhibition on the history of dentistry throughout China, India and Thailand, including a prehistoric human skeleton found in Thailand which had traces of unnaturally modified teeth.
This exhibition explains how people in the past looked after their teeth, said Dr Phira. For example, during the reign of King Narai the Great of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, Siamese people chewed betel nuts in the belief it would give them healthy stomachs and teeth, as well as pleasant breath.
The next zone has an academic exhibition displaying items from Mahidol's Faculty of Dentistry, Thailand's first dental institute which was founded in 1972, the deputy dean said.
The zone also includes dental statistics in Thailand, including the number of Thai dentists from the past to present, and the dentist per capita ratio.
The fourth section could be a highlight for visitors, Dr Phira said, as it includes interactive exhibits. One is a giant model of a mouth aimed at teaching children how bacteria can harm their teeth.
Staff will also be on hand with giant toothbrushes to demonstrate to children how to brush their teeth properly, and a 3D human model in the zone will also show parents and children how oral health can affect overall health and well-being.
The last section houses a vast collection of dental materials, tools, and other items, as well as pictures telling the story of how dentistry developed from a marketplace spectacle to the complex treatments of today, Dr Phira said.
Visitor Witsanu Saythong, 30, said he enjoyed going to the museum due to its educational information and interactive media on dental science.
Figures from the Bureau of Dental Health show Thailand has just 11,607 dentists nationwide, with the dentist to total population ratio approximately 1:5,533.
In most developed countries, the ratio is 1:2,000.
The statistics show many Thais still lack access to basic oral health care, especially those people in remote areas. Dr Phira said most dental services are concentrated in Bangkok, and that there are not enough dental health professionals in rural communities.
"The dentist per capita ratio in Bangkok is 1:1,039, which is 14 times higher than that in the Northeast. We need to produce more dentists and allocate them to match the needs in those regions," he said.
However, Dr Phira said producing more dentists alone would not address the root cause of poor dental health in the country.
Thai people, especially school-age children, must develop understanding of proper oral hygiene, and to eat properly to prevent oral and dental health problems.
"Thais need to establish good oral hygiene habits from a young age because the sooner they start forming correct dental habits, the greater are the chances for healthy teeth in the future,'' he said.
The Sirindhorn Dental Museum is located at HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn 50th Birthday Anniversary Celebration Building, Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, Phayathai Campus.
Admission is free, and opening hours are Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 4.30pm (except public holidays).