Select country
Refine my search

Passion with profession

Post date: 31/08/2014 | Time to read article: 3 mins

The information within this article was correct at the time of publishing. Last updated 14/11/2018

Leentje gives an alternative view on dentistry, enticing young dentists to explore different options and combine their passion with their profession. 

"I am setting up a charity, free dental (emergency) treatment & education from a boat sailing the world. Maybe one day you may decide to join me"

A Little About Me

My name is Leentje Schade. It is an old fashioned Dutch name and you pronounce my name: Layn-che. While I am travelling, I use the name Angel, because it sounds similar and makes me sound angelic. While practising I never used my last name, which in Dutch means damage. Not the best association for a dentist.

sailing dentistI graduated dentistry in Amsterdam in 2006. I've worked as a general practising dentist for a few years. I love treating patients, making and keeping them pain free, educating them and make them proud of their own teeth.

In 2011 I took a long holiday to India, my first time to travel alone. On the beautiful remote Andaman islands I met a little boy with a big submandibular swelling. I asked him to open his mouth and saw that the 74 and 75 were deeply affected. I wanted to help him, but I had no instruments with me. I asked the local hospital for help, but they couldn't help either. It was a horrible feeling.

Sailing

I worked for a few more years before I quit my job to go sailing. This lifestyle brings you from place to place, all while you have your house with you. I sailed from Brasil to Trinidad and Tobago. I saw many beautiful and remote destinations. In Tobago I was offered a job as a dentist. There was no dentist in the village and everybody seemed to have very bad teeth. I never opened my own office in the Netherlands because it felt claustrophobic. To settle down in one city and know that I would work there forever, would scare me. This sounded like a better option; at least it was in a beautiful warm country. With apparently lots of willing patients. But the sailing had got me, and this is when I thought of an idea. Which is now my project; to treat people from a sailing boat. It all made perfect sense. I would be the sailing dentist.

I did what everybody wants to do. I combine what I love doing, with what I love doing! I don't know why not more dentists do it? I started googling and found a few projects doing something similar. It is important to have medical indemnity. There are rules and regulations and they are different in every country. This didn't deter me and I am in the beginning of setting up this project now.

It all makes perfect sense; there is hardly any overhead. I live and work on the boat. The boat carries me and my instruments from place to place for free. The solar panels can generate the electricity I need to operate. I will visit hard to reach places where no dentists go. The unit will be mobile, so I can even set up office in the middle of the bush. I can educate and treat people all around the world.

We have a great profession. We need to keep it that way. But sometimes in the Netherlands I felt it was all a luxury. We want to work in an office with the best chair, the best instruments, and the newest digital x-rays. The waiting area has to be filled with beautiful pictures and design furniture.

In other parts of the world it is a whole different story. People are in pain for years. I am truly grateful for the education I had but I want to spend a part of my career as a dentist to people who do not know such luxuries, (the design nor education). I hope that with this story I have inspired you to reach for your dreams, but also think about the less fortunate in this world. I have never felt more passion for anything in my life.

sailing_dentist_2

Next Steps

This month I will be collecting an autoclave and instruments, then flying 

back to the south of Portugal to continue my trip. I will first visit the Canary Islands, then on to Africa; The Gambia, Senegal and the Cape Verdes. Later this year I will visit South Africa and the countries around. I would really love to have another dentist aboard, or any medical staff. It is all charity work and I share costs for food and diesel with the captain.

If you liked this article then please take a look at Leentje's Facebook page.

Leentje Schade

[email protected] 

Dental Protection is the leading indemnity provider.
Find out more

Share this article

Share
New site feature tour

Introducing an improved
online experience

You'll notice a few things have changed on our website. After asking our members what they want in an online platform, we've made it easier to access our membership benefits and created a more personalised user experience.

Why not take our quick 60-second tour? We'll show you how it all works and it should only take a minute.

Take the tour Continue to site

Dentolegal advice
0800 561 1010
Membership information
0800 561 9000

Key contact details

Should you need to contact us, our phone numbers are always visible.

Personalise your search

We'll save your profession in the "I am a..." dropdown filter for next time.

Tour completed

Now you've seen all of the updated features, it's time for you to try them out.

Continue to site
Take again