Dental surgeon and owner of Maytime Dental (Pty) Ltd in Durban Dr Sonam Balwanth graduated with a PhD in Dentistry for her research titled, “Examining the Role of the Caregiver in Oral Healthcare Provision at Long-Term Care Facilities in the eThekwini District in KwaZulu-Natal”.
Balwanth, who was supervised by Professor Shenuka Singh, said the achievement was a significant milestone in her career. ‘Hard work becomes a labour of love when you live for something greater than yourself,’ she said.
With aspirations to continue making a positive impact in the field of Dentistry in KwaZulu-Natal, she hopes to inspire future generations to engage in research and advance oral healthcare for vulnerable populations.
Balwanth’s study revealed that caregivers in long-term care facilities often lacked the knowledge and practices necessary to provide proper oral healthcare to institutionalised residents. Her research emphasises the need for improved caregiver education to enhance access to comprehensive oral healthcare, benefiting the overall well-being of residents in these facilities. She believes the study’s findings will contribute to better planning of oral health programmes and improve care at long-term care facilities across eThekwini.
The novelty of the study lies in its focus on caregiver knowledge, attitudes and practices in long-term care facilities which is an under-researched area in South Africa. Balwanth’s work adds valuable insights to global literature on oral healthcare for vulnerable populations.
A passionate dentist dedicated to helping others, Balwanth’s motivation to pursue research stems from her desire to extend her role beyond the clinic and enhance oral healthcare among underserved communities. Challenged in a variety of areas by the COVID-19 pandemic, she credits her success to the unwavering support of her supervisor and her parents.
Balwanth, born and raised in Durban, began her academic journey in dentistry in the Western Cape. She qualified as a dental surgeon in 2012, completed postgraduate studies in Interceptive Orthodontics in 2016 and earned her master’s degree summa cum laude in 2018. She is the author of eight publications from her master’s and PhD theses and has presented her research nationally.
Outside of her professional life, Balwanth enjoys cooking, baking, hiking and staying active through gym workouts, valuing the balance between a healthy body and a healthy mind.
Words: Nombuso Dlamini
Photograph: Sethu Dlamini