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Over the past 5 years we have had the honor to host several Dental Mission teams for our children at the orphanage, children at our school and community. The teams of committed dental professionals have delivered preventative and restorative services over the last 7 mission trips and they have no plans on stopping anytime soon! It truly has been a huge blessing to the children and community as these services are almost non-existent in our region. Through their services they have prevented tooth loss, infection, and systemic related issues on a countless number of individuals in Northwest of Haiti.
If you would like to join a mission trip in the future please fill out the form below and we will make sure to contact you as soon as another dental mission trip is organized. While a dental background is helpful, it is not required as we often need help with many other tasks like filling out paperwork, setting up the equipment, seating and dismissing patients, giving oral health education, performing fun activities and more! |
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July 2023
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Our hygienist Lisa has a passion for oral hygiene and helping the children at Emmanuel. During a two week trip with Frankie, Lisa performed dental cleanings, sealants and silver diamine fluoride. July is one of the hottest months in Haiti, and our mission house where the clinic is located has metal roofing. Lisa enjoyed working outside on the patio, being surrounded by the children all day while she worked. As she checked off the list of children, she came across three that needed urgent dental care, out of her scope of practice. There is no dentist in Bombardopolis, but she had heard of one in Mole St Nicholas. After a beach day with the children Lisa and Frankie took the three boys to the dentist to have teeth extracted. She was not only impressed by his bedside manner but the affordability of his services. We look forward to teaming up with him in the future!
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October 2022
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When Lisa and Maria weren't busy helping Autumn with OT and wheelchair fittings in the community, they were busy cleaning the kids teeth. We offered our services to the staff as well, and really hope to include them in our 6 month recall schedule we have established for the children. This was our first trip running the clinic on 100% solar power. The smooth sound of multiple machines running at once with no issues, was music to our ears. It reminded us of how far this popup dental clinic has come and how much potential it has to do so much good in the future. The children not only received a dental cleaning, but got their sealants touched up, reapplication of silver diamine fluoride if needed and a fluoride varnish for everyone.
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April 2022
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We welcomed two dentists, Dr. Stephanie and Dr. Magally, from Costa Rica on the team. They balanced loving on the kids and providing restorative work to the teachers and workers at the orphanage. Dr. Stephanie changed lives by giving a few of the workers at the orphanage a set of dentures, which completely transformed their smile. Two dental hygienists, Taylor and Lisa C, from the U.S also joined on this trip to assist Lisa and Marie with the school dental cleaning mission.
Accommodating a team of 6 dental professionals was a first for us. For once, we did not have enough chairs or space. Everyone was flexible and adaptable, our hygienists even moved to an office area on the property to set up their hygiene clinic. The team worked hard to be as productive as possible in such a short amount of time. Smiles were forever changed on this trip. |
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March-April 2022
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Over the course of 8 weeks, Lisa and Maria worked daily providing the 443 children of Emmanuel School their very first dental cleaning. We welcomed the help from our dental hygienist friend, Anabel, during the first week. Every child received dental sealants, fluoride, and silver diamine fluoride to arrest areas of decay. There we many days the kids were testing, not in school or the dental clinic lost power. The hygienists enjoyed their days off doing activities with the kids.
Completed:
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July 2021
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After a year and a half gap due to COVID, Dr. Stephanie was finally able to return to the orphanage to spend several weeks providing necessary and urgent dental care for our children. Based off our previous dental missions, we knew there was a lot of restorative work to be completed. Dr. Stephanie spent long days, and even worked through the night to make sure the kid's needs were met and that our caregivers received some dental pain relief as well. Hygienists, Lisa and Maria, provided dental cleanings for the children and applied sealants.
A huge blessing arrived in Bombardopolis during this trip, a fully equipped dental chair and unit, and our panoramic machine! Our dental team could not wait to unwrap the chair and start using it! This was the beginning of a more ergonomic dental clinic here in Bombardopolis Haiti. |
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March 2021
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The pandemic put a delay on our dental mission, following the last one in January 2020. At this time, Maria was now living at Emmanuel caring for her child. Lisa was eager to get back to see the children and do some work. Lisa and Maria relocated the popup clinic to the large mission house. The set up allowed for the kids to be inside and play, while Lisa and Maria performed dental cleanings and sealants. Over the course of a week we completed 46 dental cleanings, placed over 200 sealants and for the first time applied medicine on over 100 teeth to stop decay. They even spent two days at the school doing dental presentations and applying fluoride varnish on every student. When they weren't busy in the clinic they had fun playing with the kids and doing activities!
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January 2020
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This was our first official dental mission at Emmanuel with a team! God truly played a part in orchestrating the team and timing. We welcomed Dr. Stephanie from Costa Rica and two hygienists, Maria and Lisa from the U.S. The team brought 2 portable dental units/compressors and tons of tools and supplies. The team set up their little clinic in the office building located on the orphanage property. The first day was spent arranging the space and testing out the self developing x-ray film. Dr. Stephanie screened each child at the orphanage and prioritized them based off their needs. 99% of the children had active visible decay, this is the first time they have seen a dentist. Dr. Stephanie worked long days and nights providing gentle and thorough care for the kids. Hygienists Maria and Lisa did as much of a dental cleaning as they could with the limited tools they had. Most of the time utilizing a cup to swish and spit for the kids. This was the kid's first time having their teeth cleaned and they were all so brave. They helped one another and enjoyed standing around and watching the action.
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April 2019
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This trip was the beginning of something much bigger for the kids at the orphanage. This trip created an awareness for how many dental needs these children had and generated discussion about what we can do next to help the children. Maria joined a mission team that came to Emmanuel from the U.S to work on various projects around the orphanage. This dental hygienist brought just enough supplies to do dental screenings with a head light and disposable plastic mirrors. Each child received their very first application of fluoride varnish and oral hygiene education. Maria even continued on to the school to provide oral hygiene instruction to every class and applied fluoride varnish on 350+ children at the school.
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