Recognizing that good oral health is the foundation of a good quality of life, Gulf Development Public Company Limited (GULF), in collaboration with the Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, has continued its “GULF Sparks Smiles Year 6” project. The project recently organized its third free mobile dental clinic of 2026, providing residents in Nakhon Luang District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, with convenient, fast, and free access to oral healthcare services. In addition, the initiative offers young people an opportunity to participate as volunteers, reinforcing GULF’s commitment to its philosophy, “Powering the Future, Empowering the People,” which aims to enhance the quality of life of Thai people while supporting the development of the nation’s economic infrastructure.
Mr. Sumet Prommames, a senior resident of Nakhon Luang District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, shared his experience with the project: “I decided to come because the mobile dental clinic was located very close to my home, only about 100 meters away. I would like to thank GULF and the Faculty of Dentistry at Chulalongkorn University for allowing residents of Bang Phra Khru Subdistrict, Nakhon Luang District, to receive free dental treatment. For ordinary people, visiting a dentist can be difficult. Some do not have their own transportation, and in my case, if my children are unavailable, I have to hire someone to take me to the hospital. Extracting just one tooth can cost around 500 baht, excluding other expenses. This project is therefore extremely beneficial for people who earn daily wages. I am very grateful and sincerely thankful.”
Paphawin Suwatcharatanaphum, D.D.S., a dentist from Bang Pa-in Hospital who volunteered in the activity, said, “The mobile dental clinic allows people who have difficulty traveling, rely on family members to take them to the hospital, are afraid of dental treatment, or are concerned about costs to access dental care more easily. Although some people are eligible for free dental treatment through healthcare benefits, they still need to travel to the hospital early in the morning or wait for long queues. Having a free dental clinic in their community encourages them to seek treatment more conveniently. I would like to thank the ‘GULF Sparks Smiles’ project for creating opportunities for dentists to contribute to society while ensuring that the public benefits fully from these services. Finally, I encourage everyone to visit a dentist because early dental care is always the best approach.”
In addition to volunteer dentists, the project also provides opportunities for students to participate as youth volunteers. Ms. Patchthita Srithanauthaikorn, a Grade 10 student from Crest School Bangkok, shared her experience: “I dream of becoming a dentist, which is why I applied to volunteer with this project. This experience was different from other volunteer activities because I was able to assist real dentists in their work. At first, I felt nervous, but the dentists and dental assistants guided me throughout the process. It was an invaluable experience that aligned perfectly with my aspirations. I had a lot of fun and felt inspired to pursue admission to a dental school. Although the work was tiring, seeing patients thank the dentists was incredibly rewarding, and I felt proud to be part of an effort that helped bring smiles back to people. I would like to thank GULF for giving me this opportunity. It has deepened my understanding of my dream profession, and I hope more opportunities like this will continue to be available in the future.”
Over the past six years, the “GULF Sparks Smiles” project has helped improve oral health and create brighter smiles for more than 6,500 people across Thailand. Through its mobile dental units, the project has expanded access to dental services and oral healthcare education, particularly for underprivileged individuals and those living in remote areas, free of charge. Services include dental check-ups, scaling, fillings, tooth extractions, wisdom tooth surgery, and fluoride treatments. The project will continue to organize activities throughout 2026.
For more information and updates about the “GULF Sparks Smiles” project, please follow: Facebook Gulf SPARK, TikTok GULF SPARK, and Instagram gulfspark.th.
Symbol: GULF