Picton Dental Centre’s Dr. Kuldeep Sandhu and Karlyn Madrid joined dentists, oral surgeons, hygienists and prosthodontists in Uganda for two weeks in January, helping nearly 2,000 villagers in the areas surrounding Kabale.
The Build Your Smile Dental Foundation (BYSDF) organizes and supports the missions.
Based in Toronto, the Foundation was started by Dr. Izchak Brazilay in 2018 and has two objectives.
First, trips to Costa Rica, Africa and Mexico, as well as parts of the United States, bridge dental gaps where accessibility to care is an issue.
Secondly, education is a cornerstone of the organization. The team provides dental education and clinical training to professionals in remote areas. They also instruct patients. Dr. Sandhu says teaching proper oral health practices helps ensure dentists aren’t seeing the same person with the same issue over and over again.
Typical procedures completed in the villages include cleanings, cavity fillings, fluoridation, extractions and installing implants.
“As far as the dentistry we practice in Uganda versus Canada, the issues tend to be similar,” Dr. Sandhu told the Gazette. “But there’s a huge difference in resources. In Canada, we can do any type of treatment or procedure. In Uganda, it’s very different. There are places where there’s no power. There’s treatment you can’t perform because you can’t get the equipment sterilized enough to do it properly.”
The professionals are on their toes and rely on each other’s skills to deliver first-rate dentistry and education. The satisfaction is in being able to help.
“It’s the eyes that talk, there’s happiness in the eyes. They come in with sad eyes and they leave with happy eyes,” Dr. Sandhu said. “It’s a key moment and their eyes brighten up. We may not be able to understand each other verbally but it’s the gestures, the look on their faces, you know you have helped this person and they are very appreciative.”
The dentists united through the BYSD Foundation believe dental care is a fundamental human right, not a privilege. Both Dr. Sandhu and Ms. Madrid funded their own way to Uganda this year at a cost of $6,500 each.
This spring, the BYSDF is conducting a local outreach program. On May 16, Picton Dental Centre is hosting its annual free dental care day to local residents over the age of 18.
“We are asking anyone interested in taking part to call us on May 15 and pre-register. Patients fill out forms in advance and are assigned a number. Then, on May 16, it will be first come, first served from 7:30 a.m – 4 p.m.” Ms. Madrid said.
Patients can pre register for a cleaning, a filling, or an extraction.
For more information call 613-476-6750.
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