The Fill In
January / February, 2009
Dental Outreach Program at Laventille Church’s Health Fair Ryszardo Jennings
Dental Outreach Programs were established to provide dental services to areas that were identified as isolated and under serviced. The Dental Outreach Program (DOP) is one strategy implemented to assist with monitoring, sustaining and restoring the dental health of under serviced communities. Once a community has been defined as underserviced, there are several ways of how services may be provided. The community is assessed as to which strategy is the most appropriate way to deliver services. Dental Outreach Programs allow for the charitable aspect of the dental profession to be implemented. These programs are usually operated by volunteers giving freely of their time and knowledge, with absolutely no payment or reward being requested. Its impact is often greatest felt by those who otherwise may not be able to afford/experience such an intervention. With the aforementioned in mind, please permit me to give my (biased) account of what was a wonderful Dental Outreach held by the UWI School of Dentistry, Child Dental Health Unit (CDHU) in November, 2008 hosted by the Laventille Open Bible Church. The church contacted Dr. Naidu (Senior Lecturer CDHU) through their PRO Collen Holder and requested that a booth be set up to provide dental screening to the attendees at their Health Fair. Without any hesitation the wheels of the CDHU were put into gear and the necessary arrangements made. Anyone attending the Health Fair would not have expected what they would find at the dental booth. Dr. Naidu along with seven (7) UWI Dental Interns gathered early that Saturday morning and boarded the maxi taxi to Laventille. Upon arriving the team quickly set up their screening clinic and went above expectations by also setting up an Oral Hygiene booth. Every patient who presented to be screened received a thorough examination and then was ushered to be educated on correct oral hygiene techniques appropriate to their age, with gifts given to participants thanks to the Colgate® brand. The team examined approximately fifty (50) individuals ranging from the very young to the elderly, even some beautiful special needs individuals were in attendance. After being screened some left, only to return with their families or friends for them to have the benefit of the screening and even oral hygiene education. Both teams were kept very busy by the very inquisitive and open minded crowd that developed as the day went by. It is without reservation that I write that the Dental booth was the most popular at the health fair, even with the Cancer Society Of T&T’s mobile unit being present, and most certainly it was very well 5
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