What do you think would be the most "useful" dental speciality in the third world?

[rarm1]

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This is an interesting thread with many good answers. No one speciality is needed more than any other.

I have traveled with Operation Smile (mostly for clefts but also dentistry), Health Volunteers Overseas (Dental unit), the international Red Cross, and will be going with the Sister City program.

while each area is different, and every country I have gone too I have learned a lot. I will break it down to 3 major areas:

Urgent Care - mostly exodontia that a GP or OMS can do... some major that only for an OMS(tumors, bad impactions)

Prevention - public health and oral path/oral medicine to set up programs to prevent disease. not only caries and periodontal disease but also cancer and lesions,etc

Education - exchange of information at the university/dental school level and to dental societies. All specialities are needed, and every one and share the methods they use.

I have been involved in all phases and the prevention is for long control of disease and the education and sharing ideas has lead to many good friends and improved my ability to give seminars. And of course getting some one out of pain or restoring a smile is great.

Within the education we have had a few dentists visit our hospital for a month (unfortunately- they or their sponsers must pay for it).

While there is great interest in cosemetic dentistry, other areas need to be shared too.

 

[noir]

Alas, the nail has been hit on the head:

A good trend is the non-acceptance of foreign dental graduates; they must now perform the last two years min. of dental school in order to be eligible for taking the boards. I would like to see this trend continued and improved; a ceiling on the number of foreign doctors will benefit underdeveloped countries- this would be analogous to further strengthening border restrictions.
Underdeveloped countries can only be helped from within by their own people. Programs must be established to train such people under the conditions that they return to better their countries. Maybe a scholarship so that they do not have to worry about living expenses and tuition, as long as they maintain a certain level of performance. It is highly unlikely that such programs do not already exist- thus falling under the heading of public health and academic dentistry. Further efforts must be placed to ensure that such programs thrive and are expanded, thus, securing the United State's position as the powerhouse for education and compassion.
A general dentist or specialist would be nice if s/he stayed in the 3rd world country and was able to develop a doctor-patient relationship; this would ensure the indigenous people that (oral) health is a legitimate concern and one that should be taken seriously. I would prefer this route than to treat countries like a dental school clinic, where there is a lack of long term doctor-patient interaction.
Being an American citizen should not be a birthright, however, I cannot help but notice that far too many people are wanting to leave their respective countries to practice in the United States in search of the American Dream. It is time for our generation to step up and improve living conditions without geographical restrictions; tougher laws, with respect to practitioner licensing for foreign dental/medical graduates must be enforced so that if this generation is too weak to abide by them, the latter will be prepared to deal with the remaining mess. Foreign trained doctors must assume the responsibility to treat their own area, much like Americans should treat rural areas. (Neglect is worse than idealism.)

..

 

[StarGirl]

Max Facial Prostho... very little cancer screening in 3rd world countries... so I guess you'll need to be a prostho and you'll also need an OS to do all the surgeries...

 

[TKD]

Does anybody know which MD specialities typically can perform cleft lip surgeries?

Is this a typical oral and maxillofacial surgeon task or is this done mostly by plastics, ent, craniofacial trauma, etc... Or as I am guessing is actually the case - all are qualified to perform cleft palate surgeries, and all do.

Just thinking out loud...

Cleft lip usually done by plastics, or else by a OMFS who's done a plastics fellowship - although I believe there's a few OMFS programs out there that provide sufficient training w/out the fellowship. Same goes for the hard and/or soft palatal cleft.

ENT would never attempt something like that. Nor would general surgeons.

Personally I feel most useful is a general dentist who has had some additional training (i.e. gpr or in/externship) in exodontia.

I would also love to take part in operation smile or other similar organization some day.

FYI here in the good ol' USA there are hundreds of regions where oral health is almost as poor as some 3rd world countries (federally qualified health center / dentally underserved centers). Anyone who has experience in rural areas and some inner cities knows what I'm talking about. The large number of uninsured individuals, and some with medical assistance who can't find a provider (b/c of poor, and in some cases no reimbursements) is astonishing and rising.

 

[DIRTIE]

Cleft lip usually done by plastics, or else by a OMFS who's done a plastics fellowship - although I believe there's a few OMFS programs out there that provide sufficient training w/out the fellowship. Same goes for the hard and/or soft palatal cleft.

ENT would never attempt something like that. Nor would general surgeons.

Personally I feel most useful is a general dentist who has had some additional training (i.e. gpr or in/externship) in exodontia.

I would also love to take part in operation smile or other similar organization some day.

FYI here in the good ol' USA there are hundreds of regions where oral health is almost as poor as some 3rd world countries (federally qualified health center / dentally underserved centers). Anyone who has experience in rural areas and some inner cities knows what I'm talking about. The large number of uninsured individuals, and some with medical assistance who can't find a provider (b/c of poor, and in some cases no reimbursements) is astonishing and rising.

Take a trip to Pine Ridge SD. There is a good example of an area that is an oral health crisis.

 

[burton117]

This is an interesting thread with many good answers. No one speciality is needed more than any other.

I have traveled with Operation Smile (mostly for clefts but also dentistry), Health Volunteers Overseas (Dental unit), the international Red Cross, and will be going with the Sister City program.

while each area is different, and every country I have gone too I have learned a lot. I will break it down to 3 major areas:

Urgent Care - mostly exodontia that a GP or OMS can do... some major that only for an OMS(tumors, bad impactions)

Prevention - public health and oral path/oral medicine to set up programs to prevent disease. not only caries and periodontal disease but also cancer and lesions,etc

Education - exchange of information at the university/dental school level and to dental societies. All specialities are needed, and every one and share the methods they use.

I have been involved in all phases and the prevention is for long control of disease and the education and sharing ideas has lead to many good friends and improved my ability to give seminars. And of course getting some one out of pain or restoring a smile is great.

Within the education we have had a few dentists visit our hospital for a month (unfortunately- they or their sponsers must pay for it).

While there is great interest in cosemetic dentistry, other areas need to be shared too.

It makes sense that a long term solution would have to include increases in all specialties as well as comprehensive plans on a country by country basis. It was good to note that we can and should be thinking "big" and focusing on a "larger plan" rather than what can "I" do most effectively with my skills.

A good reminder that the team approach to dentistry should prevail if the global problem of access to dental care is to be remedied in any significant way. 👍

 

[OrinScrivello]

I'd love to pioneer a method of combining a prophy/fluoride with a vasectomy. That's what the third world really needs. Do you think I can get a research grant on this?

 

[Smilemaker100]

I'd love to pioneer a method of combining a prophy/fluoride with a vasectomy. That's what the third world really needs. Do you think I can get a research grant on this?

That's a TERRIBLE 😡 thing to say! What these people need , more than anything else, is an education. Education solves many problems.When a society is more educated, human rights tend to be respected, women tend to have less kids and have a chance to have a career.

 

[50dent]

I understand your concern for 3rd world education but it seems like the only urgent education is agricultural and health. Until these needs are met the business world wouldn't risk all of the liability associated with trying to capitalize on the labor force in those areas. Which is the only solution to the problem that I can think of. Education wouldn't do a large number of these people much good if all of the resources to their name is a dried up creek bed and a pile of sand. Over 30,000 ppl starve to death a day, 3/4ths of them being under 5 years old which would lead someone to think that voluntarily sterilizing people in these areas isnt such a terrible idea. There are worst things than being steril.

 

[Smilemaker100]

I understand your concern for 3rd world education but it seems like the only urgent education is agricultural and health. Until these needs are met the business world wouldn't risk all of the liability associated with trying to capitalize on the labor force in those areas. Which is the only solution to the problem that I can think of. Education wouldn't do a large number of these people much good if all of the resources to their name is a dried up creek bed and a pile of sand. Over 30,000 ppl starve to death a day, 3/4ths of them being under 5 years old which would lead someone to think that voluntarily sterilizing people in these areas isnt such a terrible idea. There are worst things than being steril.

The principal underlying problem in these countries is the political regime. These countries are run by drug lords, tyrants and other corrupt members of the country in question. Once the political problem is resolved, the social infrastructures of the society will change accordingly. As wealthy nations,I think it is our duty to help these countries find political stability.

If you decide that certain individuals in this world shouldn't have the basic human right of reproduction, you are entering in dangerous territory. It's the practice of eugenics which is ethically wrong. 😡

Once you decide that impoverished people in the third world have no right to have children, then it won't be a far leap till you decide that certain ethnicities have no right to reproduce because they have a high rate of crime or drug abuse in their communities. Before you know it, we will all start making "designer babies" (which is already being practiced to a small extent eg. sperm donors from Mensa) and letting government policy dictate how many children we can each have and stipulate the desirable genetic traits in a child. 😱

 

[50dent]

You are right. My mind is changed.

 

[rarm1]

As a dentist, I mentioned what we can do in dentistry, especially working with the country. Many of the groups I with also do care in the US. Operation Smile also has projects with migrant workers in the US, etc.

I go with my residents to health fairs and screening.

About the political structure elsewhere and starvation, I know well about that... it hasnt changed much from the 60s when I was in the orginal Peace Corps/VISTA groups.... I still work with the Peace Corp - In Moldova we worked with them to start a teach the teacher program. And with the state department with the partners for peace program, and with our local embasseys to try to get more done. (IT IS NICE BEING IN DELAWARE... KNOWING YOUR SENATORS,ETC). Working with the sister city program through the Mayor's program...

WORKING AS A TEAM... we help with health/dental plans, the others with basic education, farming, etc... before going anyplace I check to see what is going on... and work with a team to try to get the max achieved.

The one/two week missions are nice... the provide care BUT often it fails when there is no follow up... give a fish they eat for a day, teach them to fish they eat for ever...etc.

As we do at hospitals....TEAM WORK... work together.. debate... to try to achieve the best result even if it means delaying.

The next new project planned is Nigeria via Sister Cities and the Mayor's Office... but... need to go through the politics... for safety... and to be sure the project can remain on going and help... There two biggest problems as mentioned is starvation and diseases (AIDS/HIV) BUT while that is worked on we plan to start preventive program via the school system and work with the dental schools to improve/exchange ideas on dental care... and work on CE programs with the dentists... and hopefully the exchange program.....

It takes TIME and PATIENCE... and a lot of LUCK and TEAM WORK...

 

[Smilemaker100]

As a dentist, I mentioned what we can do in dentistry, especially working with the country. Many of the groups I with also do care in the US. Operation Smile also has projects with migrant workers in the US, etc.

I go with my residents to health fairs and screening.

About the political structure elsewhere and starvation, I know well about that... it hasnt changed much from the 60s when I was in the orginal Peace Corps/VISTA groups.... I still work with the Peace Corp - In Moldova we worked with them to start a teach the teacher program. And with the state department with the partners for peace program, and with our local embasseys to try to get more done. (IT IS NICE BEING IN DELAWARE... KNOWING YOUR SENATORS,ETC). Working with the sister city program through the Mayor's program...

WORKING AS A TEAM... we help with health/dental plans, the others with basic education, farming, etc... before going anyplace I check to see what is going on... and work with a team to try to get the max achieved.

The one/two week missions are nice... the provide care BUT often it fails when there is no follow up... give a fish they eat for a day, teach them to fish they eat for ever...etc.

As we do at hospitals....TEAM WORK... work together.. debate... to try to achieve the best result even if it means delaying.

The next new project planned is Nigeria via Sister Cities and the Mayor's Office... but... need to go through the politics... for safety... and to be sure the project can remain on going and help... There two biggest problems as mentioned is starvation and diseases (AIDS/HIV) BUT while that is worked on we plan to start preventive program via the school system and work with the dental schools to improve/exchange ideas on dental care... and work on CE programs with the dentists... and hopefully the exchange program.....

It takes TIME and PATIENCE... and a lot of LUCK and TEAM WORK...

Thanks, for sharing your experiences, Dr Arm.

I recently got a detailed package from "Global Humanitarian Expedititions" in which they mentioned the possility of obtaining C.E credits. However, I was disappointed to find out that it wasn't the case. Can you suggest any dental volunteer organization which grants C.E credits?

Since you mentioned the AIDS crisis in Nigeria, I couldn't resist but mention an excellent book "Race Against Time" (2005) which I am currently reading. This book gives an insider's perspective on the problems many African countries are having in battling the disease. It's written by Stephen Lewis, the United Nations Secretary-General's special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa and commissioner of the WHO's Commission on Social Determinants of Health.

http://www.anansi.ca/titles.cfm?pub_subid=281
http://www.stephenlewisfoundation.org/

 

[Smilemaker100]

A recent article in the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association (December 2005/January 2006 edition) discusses volunteer dentistry.

"Volunteering: Beyond the Act of Charity" by Dr Geraldine Dickson and Dr Murray Dickson.

http://www.cda-adc.ca/jcda/vol-71/issue-11/865.html

 

[OrinScrivello]

If you decide that certain individuals in this world shouldn't have the basic human right of reproduction, you are entering in dangerous territory. It's the practice of eugenics which is ethically wrong.

This statement tells us two things about you.

1. You appear to have no sense of humor. Your punishment is to watch Sara Silverman's film, Jesus is Magic, 100 times and write an essay on it.

2. You don't understand the meaning of the term 'eugenics' (which, incidentally, you brought into this thread). If you choose a mate based upon phenotypic characteristics (physical attraction, intelligence, compatibility with you, etc...), which is to say that if you use any form of discrimination between whom you choose to breed with and whom you refrain from breeding with, other than random chance, then you are practicing eugenics, albeit very inefficient eugenics. I'm glad you seem to "know" that "eugenics is ethically wrong." Who told you that? Some fabulous man in the sky? Or his self-appointed representatives in tax-exempt chapels here on Earth? Best of luck to you....

Sorry to derail this thread temporarily. I won't post again in this thread.

 

[Smilemaker100]

This statement tells us two things about you.

1. You appear to have no sense of humor. Your punishment is to watch Sara Silverman's film, Jesus is Magic, 100 times and write an essay on it.

2. You don't understand the meaning of the term 'eugenics' (which, incidentally, you brought into this thread). If you choose a mate based upon phenotypic characteristics (physical attraction, intelligence, compatibility with you, etc...), which is to say that if you use any form of discrimination between whom you choose to breed with and whom you refrain from breeding with, other than random chance, then you are practicing eugenics, albeit very inefficient eugenics. I'm glad you seem to "know" that "eugenics is ethically wrong." Who told you that? Some fabulous man in the sky? Or his self-appointed representatives in tax-exempt chapels here on Earth? Best of luck to you....

Sorry to derail this thread temporarily. I won't post again in this thread.

I do have a sense of humor but sometimes jokes do carry some grain of truth about your opinion and that's what concerned me when you made your suggestion.

I can see why you chose "Stewie" from Family Guy as your avatar - you are just as sarcastic as him.

If you are going to attack my stance and criticize the terminology I use, at least inform yourself a little more.

Your suggestion of performing vasectomies on poor individuals in the third world as a means of controlling their population (population control) is part of what defines the term "eugenics".

To get an idea of the extreme circumstances which can occur with the practice of eugenics, you can read Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World". This book is a great critique on the negative aspects of a society which practices eugenics.

http://www.huxley.net/

Eugenics, if you look it up, has MANY meanings (which have changed over the centuries) and the context I was using it is as follows (definitions I have extracted from several sources):

"-An early 20th Century effort to improve the human race by selective mating of allegedly superior people and forced sterilizations of those considered unfit."

-"from the Greek for "well born": the early twentieth century policy which aimed to improve the quality of the population by preventing "unfit" people from reproducing and encouraging "fit" people to reproduce."

-"Movement during the early twentieth century aimed at maintaining genetically pure races; advocated the prohibition of interracial marriages as well as the sterilization of the mentally handicapped."

-"Eugenics is a social philosophy (sometimes labeled a "science", a "movement", or a "pseudoscience") which advocates to improve human hereditary qualities. Proposed means of doing so have included but are not limited to selective breeding, encouragement and discouragement of certain types of reproductive practices, genetic engineering, and, historically, extermination of the designated "unfit". ..."

For further details, I would suggest reading the following:

http://www.eugenics-watch.com/intro.html

 

[rarm1]

Thank you for the info on tapes... tapes/audiobooks are the best for me with all my traveling i do.

In paper form, I already get mail and email from WHO and CDC and have worked with them. Another interesting article (don't have reference here) was on Caner in 1960 on Kaposi's in young African's... it was a discription of AIDS... I used it as a reference in my chapter in Rose and Kaye... Internal Medicine for the Dentist.

As far a CE credit or school credit...
Schools decide what they want to credit... many have programs as a requirement... check with them what they will allow, give credit for, or allow it to fulfill an oblication.

For CE... some offer seminars with CE approval, and many states allow certain volunteer programs to count... there you have to check with state boards.

 

[burton117]

A recent article in the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association (December 2005/January 2006 edition) discusses volunteer dentistry.

"Volunteering: Beyond the Act of Charity" by Dr Geraldine Dickson and Dr Murray Dickson.

http://www.cda-adc.ca/jcda/vol-71/issue-11/865.html

Sweet post! I would love to try to find more journal articles on volunteer dentistry (overseas or here in the US)! Thanks for this link!

 

[Smilemaker100]

Sweet post! I would love to try to find more journal articles on volunteer dentistry (overseas or here in the US)! Thanks for this link!

Thanks! I'll let you know if I come across more articles. It's nice to see that there are some people in dentistry who share one of my passions 😍 (one day- volunteering abroad). As soon as I have the means , I look forward to travelling, meeting new people, learning, working and tasting life in Macchu Picchu, the Amazon, and other places ! I can't wait ! I can't wait! I am itching for adventure! 😀 I'm going to be the "Indiana Jones of dentistry"! Hihihihi !

 

[burton117]

Thanks! I'll let you know if I come across more articles. It's nice to see that there are some people in dentistry who share one of my passions 😍 (one day- volunteering abroad). As soon as I have the means , I look forward to travelling, meeting new people, learning, working and tasting life in Macchu Picchu, the Amazon, and other places ! I can't wait ! I can't wait! I am itching for adventure! 😀

Ditto That!!

 

[burton117]

As a dentist, I mentioned what we can do in dentistry, especially working with the country. Many of the groups I with also do care in the US. Operation Smile also has projects with migrant workers in the US, etc.

I go with my residents to health fairs and screening.

About the political structure elsewhere and starvation, I know well about that... it hasnt changed much from the 60s when I was in the orginal Peace Corps/VISTA groups.... I still work with the Peace Corp - In Moldova we worked with them to start a teach the teacher program. And with the state department with the partners for peace program, and with our local embasseys to try to get more done. (IT IS NICE BEING IN DELAWARE... KNOWING YOUR SENATORS,ETC). Working with the sister city program through the Mayor's program...

WORKING AS A TEAM... we help with health/dental plans, the others with basic education, farming, etc... before going anyplace I check to see what is going on... and work with a team to try to get the max achieved.

The one/two week missions are nice... the provide care BUT often it fails when there is no follow up... give a fish they eat for a day, teach them to fish they eat for ever...etc.

As we do at hospitals....TEAM WORK... work together.. debate... to try to achieve the best result even if it means delaying.

The next new project planned is Nigeria via Sister Cities and the Mayor's Office... but... need to go through the politics... for safety... and to be sure the project can remain on going and help... There two biggest problems as mentioned is starvation and diseases (AIDS/HIV) BUT while that is worked on we plan to start preventive program via the school system and work with the dental schools to improve/exchange ideas on dental care... and work on CE programs with the dentists... and hopefully the exchange program.....

It takes TIME and PATIENCE... and a lot of LUCK and TEAM WORK...

I did some volunteer work in Sierra Leone, West Africa for 6 months of my senior year of college. I was driven to get out there and "do something" and I definitely agree that it takes time and patience. Nothing in Africa ever happened overnight. Thus the attraction and beauty of dentistry - most often dentists can achieve high impact, immediate results!

Sometimes its hard because there is the desire to get out there and "make a difference" right now - but I just gotta know that there needs to be a focus on training to be dentists (in my case, just getting into dental school) 😀 .

This phase of life is about training and planning. Just gotta keep focused!

 

[rarm1]

There are many links mentioned on Dental Town.... the ADA also has mention of sites... you can check Health volunteers overseas... and many missionary sites

 

[Smilemaker100]

Which dental speciality do you think would be the most "useful" in the poorest countries in the world and why?

Obviously, the need is great for any kind of dental professional, but which ones do you think could make the greatest impact?

Feel free to let me know if I have missed any specialties here..

I've been in contact with a dentist I met through www.dentaltown.com who has volunteered abroad (Albania, Belize, China, Honduras). He gave me a pretty detailed account of his experiences in this essay he wrote. One of the useful references he mentioned in his essay was the following one which is a type of global oral data bank :

http://www.whocollab.od.mah.se/expl/regions.html

The WHO Oral Health programme website lists regions that they have studied via surveys or published literature. For each country, you can get a rough idea on what the oral health needs are for the population eg. DMFT, oral diseases which are prevalent in the region, dental education, oral health manpower, other information relevant to oral health care such as sugar consumption habits/fluoridation/tobacco use.

I hope that helps. 🙂

 

[burton117]

I've been in contact with a dentist I met through www.dentaltown.com who has volunteered abroad (Albania, Belize, China, Honduras). He gave me a pretty detailed account of his experiences in this essay he wrote. One of the useful references he mentioned in his essay was the following one which is a type of global oral data bank :

http://www.whocollab.od.mah.se/expl/regions.html

The WHO Oral Health programme website lists regions that they have studied via surveys or published literature. For each country, you can get a rough idea on what the oral health needs are for the population eg. DMFT, oral diseases which are prevalent in the region, dental education, oral health manpower, other information relevant to oral health care such as sugar consumption habits/fluoridation/tobacco use.

I hope that helps. 🙂

Sweet!

Here is a similar thread:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=183997

 

[rarm1]

We are currently working with a group from Sierra Leone, but are just in the talking stages. With the sister city program we have a group from Nigeria coming to Delaware in May ( I had to cancel my trip to the Oral Medicine meeting in Puerto Rico). We will finalize the dental mission to Nigeria then.

We now have western China added to Health Volunteers overseas and will return to Chengdu.)

All exchange programs take time and effect... and a desire to help and be "paid" in smiles not dollars. I try to convince my residents of that... and many travel when they can.

 

[burton117]

Take a trip to Pine Ridge SD. There is a good example of an area that is an oral health crisis.

What are the factors here that are causing an oral health crisis? Rural poverty?

 

[aphistis]

What are the factors here that are causing an oral health crisis? Rural poverty?

No access to care. You can't visit a dentist if you can't find one.

 

[burton117]

We are currently working with a group from Sierra Leone, but are just in the talking stages. With the sister city program we have a group from Nigeria coming to Delaware in May ( I had to cancel my trip to the Oral Medicine meeting in Puerto Rico). We will finalize the dental mission to Nigeria then.

We now have western China added to Health Volunteers overseas and will return to Chengdu.)

All exchange programs take time and effect... and a desire to help and be "paid" in smiles not dollars. I try to convince my residents of that... and many travel when they can.

Dr Arm - You ever get out to Sierra Leone? Keep us posted!

 

[Drlander76]

Alas, the nail has been hit on the head:

A good trend is the non-acceptance of foreign dental graduates; they must now perform the last two years min. of dental school in order to be eligible for taking the boards. I would like to see this trend continued and improved; a ceiling on the number of foreign doctors will benefit underdeveloped countries- this would be analogous to further strengthening border restrictions.
Underdeveloped countries can only be helped from within by their own people. Programs must be established to train such people under the conditions that they return to better their countries. Maybe a scholarship so that they do not have to worry about living expenses and tuition, as long as they maintain a certain level of performance. It is highly unlikely that such programs do not already exist- thus falling under the heading of public health and academic dentistry. Further efforts must be placed to ensure that such programs thrive and are expanded, thus, securing the United State's position as the powerhouse for education and compassion.
A general dentist or specialist would be nice if s/he stayed in the 3rd world country and was able to develop a doctor-patient relationship; this would ensure the indigenous people that (oral) health is a legitimate concern and one that should be taken seriously. I would prefer this route than to treat countries like a dental school clinic, where there is a lack of long term doctor-patient interaction.
Being an American citizen should not be a birthright, however, I cannot help but notice that far too many people are wanting to leave their respective countries to practice in the United States in search of the American Dream. It is time for our generation to step up and improve living conditions without geographical restrictions; tougher laws, with respect to practitioner licensing for foreign dental/medical graduates must be enforced so that if this generation is too weak to abide by them, the latter will be prepared to deal with the remaining mess. Foreign trained doctors must assume the responsibility to treat their own area, much like Americans should treat rural areas. (Neglect is worse than idealism.)

110% agree

 

[burton117]

bump - still one of my favorite threads!

 

[ScorpiORTHO]

What do u think an orthodontist could do to help those who are underserved and in need....either in the US or developing countries?

 

[S Files]

What do u think an orthodontist could do to help those who are underserved and in need....either in the US or developing countries?

orthodontists do travel with smile train and other organizations. not sure waht they do. perhaps the alveolar molding (using orthodontic appliances which is done before and after surgery, etc)...but then again these appliances require adjustments, etc. so who would do that ?? maybe a local specialist.

 

[burton117]

What do u think an orthodontist could do to help those who are underserved and in need....either in the US or developing countries?

If I had to guess, I would say as a general rule that an orthodontist doesn't do much cosmetic dentistry in developing countries.

Based on my visit to Haiti with my dentist, we did mostly extractions and a handful of fillings.

However, a orthodontist has already been trained as a general dentist first, and they certainly have quite a bit of skills that can be used to contribute to the needs of those in developing countries.

 

[Jaybe]

It don't even really matter since from what I can tell fore-ners don't even go to the dentist anyways.

 

[burton117]

It don't even really matter since from what I can tell fore-ners don't even go to the dentist anyways.

Based on what?

 

[Dauber]

Fillings and extractions are what they need and in great numbers. You don't need to be a dentist to address the public health needs...



Root canals and braces are as important 3rd world dental needs as is gastric bypass and hair implants important medical ones. Think about priorities. An orthodontist would do more good overseas doing general dentistry than orthodontics.

 

[aphistis]

Root canals and braces are as important 3rd world dental needs as is gastric bypass and hair implants important medical ones. Think about priorities.

Bingo.

An orthodontist would do more good overseas doing general dentistry than orthodontics.

...but this part I'm not so sure about. Ask an orthodontist what a shoulder is and they'll probably point to the top of their arm. 😉

(I kid, I kid. Put down the pitchforks, guys.)

 

[pine88]

What is the best way to volunteer/work long term in a developing country, and I mean what kind of job in the US would allow it? I'd like to work in the U.S. for 6-9 months and out of the U.S. for 6-3 months per year, but would a US office hire me part time like that do you think?

 

[burton117]

What is the best way to volunteer/work long term in a developing country, and I mean what kind of job in the US would allow it? I'd like to work in the U.S. for 6-9 months and out of the U.S. for 6-3 months per year, but would a US office hire me part time like that do you think?

I am sure there are numerous opportunities through relief organizations or a church organization. There is now an organization called Dentists Without Borders.

I would bet posting the above question at www.dentaltown.com would find numerous replies immediately offering suggestions.

 

[burton117]

been a while.. and still really, really interesting!

 

[I-Baby]

This is by far one of the best threads that I've read on SDN! This answered so many questions that I had because I plan on serving people in developing countries. This was extremely useful. Thanks!

 

[riska]

hi everybody
nice thread
i study dentistry in albania( third world) with 3 million people
and i think every country need a omfs or an endodontics or a general dentistry or etc etc .....we have 4 specialities in our country which are therapy endodontics surgical and prothetics
i have found a nice forum here thank u guys