Monday, April 19, 2010

American Dental Mission in Paucarbamba

by Leander Hollings (Mysmallhelp)

As massive thank you goes to George and Kathy (from our partner charity Desana Giving in the US) for organising a dental mission to the community of Paucarbamba.

The team from the US and Peru worked tirelessly for 2 days treating adults and children in the community. For most members of the community it was the first time they had ever sat in a dentists chair and there was definitely a nervousness in the air when we arrived!

The dentists and their teams did an amazing job, treating people in the comedor and in a disused classroom in the school. There were huge problems with the community’s teeth as no-one in the community could confess to brushing their teeth regularly, mainly due to the cost of toothbrushes and toothpaste. The dentists gave classes on brushing techniques and left everyone with a toothbrush and some toothpaste.

As a result of this mission, we have decided to include monthly workshops within the community covering Basic personal health and sanitation to try to ensure that when the dentists return, they are not pulling out so many teeth! ( We were depressed to see 18 month old babies with decaying teeth….).

Pictured here are the Dentists, Dental Assistants and Dental Students. Left to right: Tula Oros Camargo (Dentist - Cusco Peru), Kathy Meyer (Dental Asst. - Sioux Falls, SD), Dr. Mike Houk (Dentist - Team Leader - Sioux Falls SD), Dr. Mel Thaler (Pediatric Dentist - Sioux Falls SD, Sherrie Lura (Dental Asst. - Sioux Falls, SD), Angela Cook (Dental Student - University of Nebraska Dental School), Dr. Craig Crooksley (Pediatric Dentist - Sioux Falls, SD), Melissa Guerreo (Dental Student - University of Nebraska Dental School), Addison Killeen (Dental Student - University of Nebraska Dental School), Loo Thaler (Dental Asst - Sioux Falls, SD), and Vladimir Oblitds Cuba (Dentist - Cusco Peru).

1 comment:

taylor said...

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