Three dentists and two hygienists from Aspen Dental offices volunteered in Haiti November 4-9, providing free dental care in a country where there is just a single dentist for every 100,000 people.
The team was based in the town of Jacmel, three hours from Haiti's capital of Port au Prince, and provided vital oral care in a neighborhood clinic in conjunction with Restore Haiti.
Leading the team was Chedly Schatzie Vincent, DDS, owner of Aspen Dental practices in Fairfield and Norwalk, CT.
With more than a dozen boxes of supplies, the team had everything it needed for general hygiene care and preventive dentistry, including kits for tooth extractions and fillings, portable x-ray machines, gauze, needles, sutures, and antibiotics.
But working conditions made practicing dentistry a challenge, according to Aspen. Operating daily in a cinder block structure amidst a shortage of water and unstable power supply, the volunteers provided nearly 500 Haitians with free care and oral care education.
The team received support from Henry Schein.
