Dr Timothy Huckabee Guide to Dental Missionary Work
The dental needs of the people in many third world nations are unimaginable. Even the basics of dental hygiene such as toothbrushes and toothpaste are a seldom seen luxury – and floss is an unknown. The water has no fluoride to prevent decay and malnutrition fosters dental disease. The diet is loaded with refined sugar in the form of sugar cane and cheap soft drinks. Dental caries are rampant at an early age causing most children and adults to have teeth that have decayed at the gums with acute and chronic oral infections. Often is care is rarely available but, even then, it is out of reach due to the lack of financial resources for most of this area.
Usual treatment was extraction, not the preferred remedy, however.With the generous support of donors modern clinics are often available. . Modern equipment is available including lights, suction, air compressors, high speed drills, modern filling materials and local anesthesia. As well, there is a fluoride program in the schools. The potential to help in the area of Santa Lucia is now limited only by the financial support available and by the volunteerism of the dentists and dental assistants who make the trip to provide care. An effort is underway to staff our dental clinic full time and to spread the success to other villages.
February 19 2011 | Dr Timothy Huckabee Reviews Current Dental Implant Concepts | Comments Off