We, the Loving Smiles Foundation Limited, were formed in March 2014. And in October the same year, we began to work hand in hand with Hong Kong Special Care Dentistry Association Limited to provide a special care dental service. In May 2015, our first clinic “Loving Smiles Special Care Dental Centre” commenced operation. At the same time, we were recognised as the service provider of the “Pilot Project for Dental Service for Persons with Intellectual Disability” by the Food and Health Bureau. In addition, we have gradually expanded our service to recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance, Healthcare Voucher Scheme and Community Care Fund Elderly Dental Assistant Program.
In mid-2018, the “Pilot Project for Dental Service for Persons with Intellectual Disability” was ended and was immediately followed by the “Healthy Teeth Collaboration” organized by the Dept of Health. Once again, we have been recognised as one of the service providers to provide dental service for the persons with intellectual disability. By end of 2018, we opened our second clinic named “Loving Smiles Special Care Dental Centre Vera Ruttonjee Desai Elderly Clinic”. We then started to develop some elderly dental programmes. They are “Eat Well Live Well” implanted supported dentures programme in 2019 and “Jockey Club Oral Health Programme for People with Dementia” in 2021.
In September 2021, our “Loving Smiles Special Care Dental Centre Vera Ruttonjee Desai Elderly Clinic” was issued a Day Procedure Centre licence by the Dental Regulatory and Law Enforcement Office, Department of Health. We are now able to provide deep sedation to support dental treatment where needs arise in our special patients.
Throughout these years, we have come across various challenges. Fortunately, we have support from our donors, advisors, working partners, other dental professionals and colleagues so that we could strive to develop and implement sustainable dental care solutions for people with special needs, with a focus on helping disadvantaged groups.
Timeline
Our Vision
To develop and implement sustainable dental care solutions for people with special needs,
with a focus on helping disadvantaged groups
Our Mission
To develop strategies and models to support dental care organizations to advance dental services to groups with special needs
To collaborate with dental care partners in training professionals to serve the needy groups
To finance, monitor and evaluate the sponsored dental care programmes
To build dental care infra-structures to connect with all community sectors in Hong Kong
Our Core Values
Cost-effective
Transparency
Strong governance
Honorary Board
| Patron | : | Mr Herman HUI GBS MH JP |
| Vice Patron | : | Prof See Ching CHAN Dr Rebecca HO Dr Sigmund LEUNG BBS JP |
| Senior President | : | Dr John LING |
Organization Patron
| Diamond Patron | : | Vera Ruttonjee Desai Charitable Fund |
Senior Advisors
Ms Ophelia CHAN BBS
Mrs Julie LEE JP
Dr Sandra LEE
Dr LEONG Che Hung GBM GBS OBE JP
Ms S K LEUNG
Mr YEUNG Ka Sing, GBS MBE JP
Ms Ruby YEUNG
Board Members
Dr Deborah CHAN
Mr Nelson FUNG
Dr Kenny LAU
Ms Selina LO
Dr Lily TONG
Partners
Hong Kong Special Care Dentistry Association Limited
- Proposed the Loving Smiles Service, a pilot project for dental service for the persons with intellectual disability initiated by the Food and Health Bureau, implemented the project from Aug 2013 – July 2018, and produced an evaluation report for the project
- Managed the special care dental services at Loving Smiles Special Care Dental Centre for the Loving Smiles Foundation Limited since 2014
Evangel Hospital
Provides the operating theatre facility and service to support dental treatment under general anesthesia for persons with intellectual disability since 2013
Hong Kong Dental Association Ltd
Co-organized the Loving Smiles Service with the Hong Kong Special Care Dentistry Association Limited from August 2013 – July 2018