Jamaica Journals 2001
Wednesday, July 18
| The progress of the dental students in only a few short days is noteworthy. Dr. Carney and I seem to be needed less and less, as students become more confident in their skills. I had the privilege of assisting Maria, a second-year student, as she removed two root tips from below the gumline for a very grateful patient. Maria is considering the possibility of some day using her skills to benefit the people of Africa, | |
| where the number of dentists per capita is about 500,000 to 1. I also assisted Kim as she completed her first silver filling for the benefit of an elderly Jamaican man. This afternoon I had the pleasure of working with Courtney as she did a beautiful bonded filling in order to restore a Jamaican's happy smile. The amazing thing is that, even though it was her first filling ever, Courtney did a wonderful job interacting with the patient and helping him relax during the procedure. | ||
| She seems to have the interpersonal skills necessary for a profession that tends to evoke anxiety in many people. A while later I was called upon to remove what was left of a 4-rooted upper molar (they usually have 3) that had broken at the gum line. |
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| After considerable time and effort, the root tips remained intact, until my assistant Chad suggested that I try a different instrument. In just a few seconds, the treatment was complete, and the patient was on her way. | |
Today our power generator was unable to handle the electrical load several times. We gradually began turning off various devices to lighten the load. First we sacrificed the CD player, then the electric fans, and even that wasn't enough. Much of the treatment was accomplished with only the light of a flashlight, operating more by sense of feel than by sight. Nonetheless, despite the sweaty grueling conditions, many Jamaicans were grateful for what we were able to accomplish for them.
One little girl came in for treatment today with a badly swollen jaw, the type of situation that often occurs in response to an abscessed tooth. However, the swollen area was quite firm, in contrast to what we would expect to find if the problem was tooth-related. Further examination revealed a healthy set of teeth and gums, making it quite likely that the swelling represented some sort of tumor. The best we could do for her was to attempt to make arrangements for her to see an oral surgeon in Kingston, hoping that she would follow through.