Providing essential dental care to people in Hawke’s Bay with high oral health needs was the kind of experience that made New Zealand Army Lieutenant Ray Lin enlist last year.

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and Hawke’s Bay District Health Board teamed up to conduct the dental outreach, called Exercise Wisdom Tooth, from 11-22 March. They also ran sessions at a number of schools to highlight the importance of good oral health and healthy lifestyle choices, and provide defence career information.

“Being able to provide dental care to those who normally cannot access it is rewarding in itself,” said Lieutenant Lin, who was part of a team of military and community dentists providing dental care and treatment as part of the NZDF’s outreach in the province.

“Because of the costs involved many individuals do not seek regular dental treatment, unless it becomes a big problem or an emergency.”

Lieutenant Lin joined the New Zealand Army in January 2018, after working for two years in Whangarei as a junior dentist for the Northland District Health Board. He is one of two dentists at Burnham Military Camp.

“Working in the military was something I wanted to try while I had the opportunity,” he said.

“The Hawke’s Bay exercise was my first dental exercise since joining the NZDF and I had been looking forward to working as part of a big team.

“Where else would I have the opportunity to keep fit, travel overseas and provide humanitarian dental care as part of my job? I did not want any regrets later in my career for not taking the opportunity to join.”

The lessons in leadership, behaviour and teamwork that he has learnt as part of his Army training have made a deep impression on him.

“These lessons will remain with me for the rest of my life and have made me a better person,” he said.

Lieutenant Lin emigrated to New Zealand from China with his family when he was four and grew up in the Wellington suburb of Karori.

He attended Scots College and obtained his dental degree at University of Otago.

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