In collaboration with non-profit World of Smiles, Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine returned to La Romana to provide free oral health care services to students of Fundación Mission International Rescue.
November 2018 - Nearly 300 patients, primarily children from the schools of Fundación Mission International Rescue (MIR) and related orphanages, were provided with comprehensive dental care during a week-long outreach mission in La Romana, a poverty-stricken area of the Dominican Republic. The clinic, established by World of Smiles Inc., is a six-chair dental clinic located on the site of Fundación MIR.
The mission marked Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine’s second visit to the area with five of its students selected to participate. Each student performed numerous screenings and various procedures, ranging from the application of fluoride preventive agents to the extraction of non-restorable teeth. “I want to specialize in pediatric dentistry, and this mission allowed me to treat children at the school while gaining crucial experience with operative procedures,” said student Lauren Heisinger.
For student Priscilla Cheng, the opportunity enabled her to provide essential oral health education and to offer life-altering treatment to underserved children. “It is crucial that oral health education is taught at an early age so that improvements can be made and diseases can be prevented in the future,” said Ms. Cheng. For Ms. Cheng, her most memorable experience from the mission was a patient’s smile following the restoration of two front teeth: “That smile shows how important a healthy smile is and how much confidence it gives.”
According to student Lu Zhao, the mission was a valuable intercultural experience that fostered her creativity in connecting with patients from a different background. For instance, Ms. Zhao transcended language barriers through technology to provide appropriate treatment and communicate information. “We were able to use a phone as a translator,” explained Ms. Zhao. “We chatted for a long time without any embarrassment or impatience, and they were able to tell me what was wrong with their teeth.”
Through World of Smiles’ establishment of its clinic, the appointment of a year-round clinic director, and support from volunteering dental students and dental professionals, oral health care for children in the area has rapidly begun to improve. “The clinic and the dental teams are an integral part of the schools now,” said Dr. James Hudson, Chairman. “The kids recognize us immediately and greet us with smiles or come running over... that is a nice feeling.”
Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine’s next outreach mission to the Dominican Republic is tentatively scheduled for the fall of 2019.
Photos courtesy of Dr. James Hudson, Chairman, World of Smiles Inc. 
