Dr Ryan Müller, a University of the Western Cape (UWC) dentist, is giving the community something to smile about with his mobile dentistry practice – a roaming minibus dental clinic equipped with all the high-tech equipment to treat patients.
“I always wanted to do more for my community with the gift I’ve been given to help people,” Dr Müller says. “With the mobile clinic, I can give back and help address the needs of the busy lives of the majority of Cape Town community.
Shortly after graduating from UWC, Dr Müller, who was born in Westridge and currently lives in Wynberg, opened his own practice, Müller’s Dental Studio in Bergvliet.
“After a year of running my own practice, it was clear that making the biggest difference meant focusing on the youth – specifically the primary school foundation phase.”
At this age, he explains, children get their permanent teeth and need the right oral education to care for their teeth to help eliminate unnecessary complications later in life.
“Prevention is always better than cure,” Dr Müller says. “The key to long-lasting positive difference lies with educating the youth.”
It all started when he participated in the HeartFM #16DaysforYouth initiative, going back to his old school, Westville Primary School in Westridge, offering free dental screening in a dental chair on the back of a bakkie.
“I created a mobile dental clinic in my old Grade 1 classroom and on that day I experienced a fulfilment I will never forget.”
Since that campaign, he rallied all the resources he could to start his mobile dental clinic.
“I knew that my mobile dental clinic would help make a massive positive difference in my industry, and I was excited to get going.”
His roaming minibus was sponsored by Colgate after seeing the work Dr Müller does in the community.
Dr Müller thanked the UWC Faculty of Dentistry – currently celebrating 40 years of excellence since graduating its first class in 1978 – for shaping who he is today. “Having the opportunity to work there sessionally for the past two years has helped me see that there are so many individuals who absolutely love the profession and industry, and love educating future oral health workers,” he says.
“To the students currently in the programme, I hope they realise that they’re in a position to learn a lot, and have a chance to make a difference with their own lives – for themselves and others.”
For more about the mobile dental clinic, call Kelly, the manager of the mobile clinic on 066 130 2059.