but I believe an even bigger problem is the lack
of information the
underserved communities are provided with rewarding the importance of
dental care. I truly believe that if kids and adults in underserved
areas were taught about proper brushing and how to keep
a good oral hygiene, the amount of people suffering from major dental
problems would decrease. I know it would not solve the problem of
access to care, but I think it would help. At least until a better
plan comes out or more dentist are willing to provide care to
underserved communities.
Over the past 7 years that I have worked as I dental assistant, I
have seen many patients that have not been taught about how to
properly brush their teeth, the health risks that a bad oral hygiene
can bring and how important it is to keep their teeth. Many of these
patients come in to the dentist when they are in pain with a mindset
that the only solution to their problem is getting an extraction. I
always try to explain to them how important it is to keep their teeth
and the many ways they can do so. One of them being, going to the
dentist when they first started experiencing discomfort, at that stage
the solution would probably be a simple filling. Many of them complain
about how expensive it is to get a filling, but then I explain to them
that it would have been the same price as what they are paying today
for an extraction. These patients leave our office educated about the
right ways to take care of their teeth and most of them come back
before the problems get worst. I know dentistry is expensive but I
truly believe education is the best weapon for the dental problems in
underserved communities until the access to care issue is solved.
I hope one day I can reach my dream of becoming a dentist. When
underserved communities are provided with rewarding the importance of
dental care. I truly believe that if kids and adults in underserved
areas were taught about proper brushing and how to keep
a good oral hygiene, the amount of people suffering from major dental
problems would decrease. I know it would not solve the problem of
access to care, but I think it would help. At least until a better
plan comes out or more dentist are willing to provide care to
underserved communities.
Over the past 7 years that I have worked as I dental assistant, I
have seen many patients that have not been taught about how to
properly brush their teeth, the health risks that a bad oral hygiene
can bring and how important it is to keep their teeth. Many of these
patients come in to the dentist when they are in pain with a mindset
that the only solution to their problem is getting an extraction. I
always try to explain to them how important it is to keep their teeth
and the many ways they can do so. One of them being, going to the
dentist when they first started experiencing discomfort, at that stage
the solution would probably be a simple filling. Many of them complain
about how expensive it is to get a filling, but then I explain to them
that it would have been the same price as what they are paying today
for an extraction. These patients leave our office educated about the
right ways to take care of their teeth and most of them come back
before the problems get worst. I know dentistry is expensive but I
truly believe education is the best weapon for the dental problems in
underserved communities until the access to care issue is solved.
I hope one day I can reach my dream of becoming a dentist. When
I do, I want to be a provider that is actively involved in
helping
the community. One of my biggest desires once I become a dentist is to
come up with ways on how we can educate the communities and help them
get the treatment they need. I also hope to inspire other dentist to
do the same.
the community. One of my biggest desires once I become a dentist is to
come up with ways on how we can educate the communities and help them
get the treatment they need. I also hope to inspire other dentist to
do the same.
Mission of Mercy is a
great program that it’s already
doing so much. I participated in the northern Virginia event this past
weekend and it was such an amazing and rewarding experience. It was estimated
doing so much. I participated in the northern Virginia event this past
weekend and it was such an amazing and rewarding experience. It was estimated
that this year about $250,000 worth of dental services were
provided to nearly 900 patients
Who qualify as living below poverty line. It’s
inspiring to see so many dentist and other volunteers willing to help
the community. I try to volunteer every year and it just warms up my
heart to see so many people getting their problems worked on. However,
it also saddens me how many of them want to just get extractions to
avoid pain in the future. It would be great if we could also include
an oral education section. Perhaps while they wait for their
procedures we could play a video or have a presentation about how to
keep a good oral hygiene and the importance of keeping all their
teeth.
inspiring to see so many dentist and other volunteers willing to help
the community. I try to volunteer every year and it just warms up my
heart to see so many people getting their problems worked on. However,
it also saddens me how many of them want to just get extractions to
avoid pain in the future. It would be great if we could also include
an oral education section. Perhaps while they wait for their
procedures we could play a video or have a presentation about how to
keep a good oral hygiene and the importance of keeping all their
teeth.
Here are a few pics from that day.
Driving there is a little tricky. Even though I have been going for the past 3 years I always get lost. :( and the sign is tiny and kinda hidden so it doesn't help much lol.
Thank you for reading.
LC
