Cheng Huawei, a dentist from Taipei, has built his career and family in Linhai, a county-level city in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, where he has worked in dentistry since 2012.

After joining the stomatology department of Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Cheng gained years of clinical experience before opening a dental clinic in 2019 with a mainland business partner.

At the clinic, Cheng is known for his attention to detail. He said the equipment is maintained and disinfected regularly, as ensuring patient safety and hygiene is the bottom line, since each person's mouth harbors different bacteria.

Over the years, he has also drawn on Taiwan's experience in preventive dental care and promoted oral health education. He said that as children grow, the gaps between their teeth widen, and food can become trapped again after fillings as the jaw develops, which may lead to inflammation and swelling. In such cases, parents should help their children clean their teeth with dental floss every night.

Cheng now sees more than 500 patients a year, while also taking part in community service. He said the clinic has long offered sanitation workers from nearby areas free hot water and shelter from the rain, and sometimes hot meals. In recent years, he has also provided free dental treatment to more than 10 sanitation workers.

After 14 years on the mainland, Cheng has gained not only professional experience but also a happy family life.

He met his wife while they were working at Taizhou Hospital, and they now have a son and a daughter, both of whom attend school on the mainland. He said he encourages Taiwan compatriots to look to smaller cities, where big dreams can also be pursued.