Dental Mission of El Salvador - Overview
Mon, Mar 8 2010 09:01
| Overview
Dr. Oscar Hernandez is a local dentist who works with the health program of the Episcopal Diocese of El Salvador. He visits 8 villages doing cleanings, fillings, extractions, and applies fluoride varnish to prevent future cavities. The program runs monthly from February to November
Dr. Oscar Hernandez writes: "I feel proud to be representing a wonderful team from CNY. What I do for the diocese makes me feel a better man, a better dentist and a good son of God. The goal of the dental program is to increase the amount of treatments and make an impact in peoples dental habits. Prevention in all levels of attention is very important and I´m willing to do my best effort to get it."
When Dr. Gard Lorey, a dentist from Skaneateles first visited El Salvador, he had learned enough Spanish to ask people about tooth pain and cavities. He knew that he and his colleagues on the Mission of Miracles medical team from Central New York would travel to small, isolated villages, and that they would be seeing patients with decay, infections, and other problems.
What Dr. Lorey didn't know, however, was that three years later he would be leading the charge to ensure that El Salvadorans in need receive preventative and corrective dental work on a regular basis.
"There's not a whole lot of wealth in these remote areas of El Salvador, and peoples last priority is their dental health," said Lorey, who has practiced for more than 20 years.
Lorey believes it is vital for the citizens there to get more regular dental care
Lorey is now seeking to raise money to pay for year-round dental equipment, supplies, and staff. Currently, the Mission of Miracles, which us sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York, includes around 30 physicians, nurses, dentists, and eye doctors.
The man he is depending on to provide this care is Dr. Oscar Hernandez, a Salvadoran dentist in his early thirties.
"Oscar is a well trained, very competent dentist," Lorey said of Hernandez, whom he met during his first visit to El Salvador. "He could practice in the United States without a problem.
When Lorey first traveled to El Salvador in 2005, he was exposed to the extent of which dental issues are problematic in small villages. Because sugar cane grows in the wild, Salvadorans chew on it from the time they are very young, said Lorey.
"The effects of this behavior are very damaging to their teeth," Lorey said of the sugar cane, adding that because many of the villagers are poor, they often wait until a problem has reached the point of an emergency to seek dental assistance.
While some members of the mission are taking blood work and checking for eye problems, the dental team (usually two dentists and a hygienist) are performing checkups and teaching preventative care. Lat year, the group brought 160,000 fluoride tablets for teachers to distribute to their students, up from 30,000 from the previous two years.
When Dr. Hernandez travels to the villages, the dental needs of the villagers are varied and extensive.
"Sometimes he does exams and teeth cleanings. Sometime he does fluoride treatments. Sometimes he extracts bad teeth," Lorey said of Hernadez, noting that some people are self-conscious, and want their damaged or diseased teeth restored. "The needs there are insurmountable."
Lorey said that the Mission of Miracles attracts large numbers of Salvadorans and that the wait can be hours long. But the residents are gracious and thankful, and they make the day into a kind festival, with singing and dancing; the women and young girls even wear their finest dresses.
"These people have very little, but they're extremely content," Lorey said.
On one mission, a young El Salvadoran boy was in need of dental care, but there wasn't enough time to see him. The next day, that same boy appeared at the missions' next stop, in a village 2 miles away.
"He showed up. I don't know how he got there but we treated him that day," Dr. Lorey said.
The Mission of Miracles times its visits to El Salvador during the dry season, as some of the villages are impossible to access during the rainy season.
Dr. Hernandez updates Dr. Lorey in Skaneateles with e-mails about once a week. Hernandez writes about his concerns about the hurricane season, and also problematic earthquakes.
But for Dr. Lorey, who would eventually like to raise enough funds for two traveling dentists, this is truly a gratifying experience no matter the scenario.
"Right form our very first mission in our first year, I knew I'd be back," he said, noting that he particularly likes to see that the preventative education is having a positive effect in El Salvador.
Dr. Oscar Hernandez, too, is dedicated to the mission.
"I can't explain the sensation and feeling I enjoy after work," Dr. Hernandez wrote in an email to Dr. Lorey.
"Your words (make) me feel so good," he wrote in a separate email. "I know that I'm doing the right thing."
Dr. Oscar Hernandez writes: "I feel proud to be representing a wonderful team from CNY. What I do for the diocese makes me feel a better man, a better dentist and a good son of God. The goal of the dental program is to increase the amount of treatments and make an impact in peoples dental habits. Prevention in all levels of attention is very important and I´m willing to do my best effort to get it."
When Dr. Gard Lorey, a dentist from Skaneateles first visited El Salvador, he had learned enough Spanish to ask people about tooth pain and cavities. He knew that he and his colleagues on the Mission of Miracles medical team from Central New York would travel to small, isolated villages, and that they would be seeing patients with decay, infections, and other problems.
What Dr. Lorey didn't know, however, was that three years later he would be leading the charge to ensure that El Salvadorans in need receive preventative and corrective dental work on a regular basis.
"There's not a whole lot of wealth in these remote areas of El Salvador, and peoples last priority is their dental health," said Lorey, who has practiced for more than 20 years.
Lorey believes it is vital for the citizens there to get more regular dental care
Lorey is now seeking to raise money to pay for year-round dental equipment, supplies, and staff. Currently, the Mission of Miracles, which us sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York, includes around 30 physicians, nurses, dentists, and eye doctors.
The man he is depending on to provide this care is Dr. Oscar Hernandez, a Salvadoran dentist in his early thirties.
"Oscar is a well trained, very competent dentist," Lorey said of Hernandez, whom he met during his first visit to El Salvador. "He could practice in the United States without a problem.
When Lorey first traveled to El Salvador in 2005, he was exposed to the extent of which dental issues are problematic in small villages. Because sugar cane grows in the wild, Salvadorans chew on it from the time they are very young, said Lorey.
"The effects of this behavior are very damaging to their teeth," Lorey said of the sugar cane, adding that because many of the villagers are poor, they often wait until a problem has reached the point of an emergency to seek dental assistance.
While some members of the mission are taking blood work and checking for eye problems, the dental team (usually two dentists and a hygienist) are performing checkups and teaching preventative care. Lat year, the group brought 160,000 fluoride tablets for teachers to distribute to their students, up from 30,000 from the previous two years.
When Dr. Hernandez travels to the villages, the dental needs of the villagers are varied and extensive.
"Sometimes he does exams and teeth cleanings. Sometime he does fluoride treatments. Sometimes he extracts bad teeth," Lorey said of Hernadez, noting that some people are self-conscious, and want their damaged or diseased teeth restored. "The needs there are insurmountable."
Lorey said that the Mission of Miracles attracts large numbers of Salvadorans and that the wait can be hours long. But the residents are gracious and thankful, and they make the day into a kind festival, with singing and dancing; the women and young girls even wear their finest dresses.
"These people have very little, but they're extremely content," Lorey said.
On one mission, a young El Salvadoran boy was in need of dental care, but there wasn't enough time to see him. The next day, that same boy appeared at the missions' next stop, in a village 2 miles away.
"He showed up. I don't know how he got there but we treated him that day," Dr. Lorey said.
The Mission of Miracles times its visits to El Salvador during the dry season, as some of the villages are impossible to access during the rainy season.
Dr. Hernandez updates Dr. Lorey in Skaneateles with e-mails about once a week. Hernandez writes about his concerns about the hurricane season, and also problematic earthquakes.
But for Dr. Lorey, who would eventually like to raise enough funds for two traveling dentists, this is truly a gratifying experience no matter the scenario.
"Right form our very first mission in our first year, I knew I'd be back," he said, noting that he particularly likes to see that the preventative education is having a positive effect in El Salvador.
Dr. Oscar Hernandez, too, is dedicated to the mission.
"I can't explain the sensation and feeling I enjoy after work," Dr. Hernandez wrote in an email to Dr. Lorey.
"Your words (make) me feel so good," he wrote in a separate email. "I know that I'm doing the right thing."
Comments