Welcome to Smiles 4 Kiwis Charity, part of our ethos is to believe everyone should have to access Dental Hygiene education.

Meet Marelize Venter, originally from South Africa, now settled in Whakatane, Bay Of Plenty. She qualified as a Dental Hygienist in 1996 from the University of Pretoria. Working full time until 2023 in Whakatane and now working part time at Sisam Dental on The Strand, this allows her to give back to the community by visiting schools and aged care facilities to teach Dental Hygiene home care.

“Working with the young and old is a passion for me. I started my career as a Dental hygienist in Orthodontic practice working with kids from all ages and abilities; teaching them how to care for their braces and maintaining good oral hygiene.

After I had my 2 boys I worked in a Prosthodontic practice where we worked with older patients who have lost teeth for a variety of reasons; assisting the specialist with implant placement and extensive crown and bridge work. I also educated patients how to care for their new smile and keep their dental care in tip top shape.

My thirst for knowledge eventually lead me to work for a Periodontist where we worked with patients with severe bone and tooth loss, mostly due to gum disease. I assisted in surgical procedures to help preserve patient’s teeth and getting them to a healthy dental state so they could maintain good oral care….read more