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Aspen Dental Team Brings Free Dental Care and Education to Haiti

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Posted: January 15, 2015
Edited by Dentaltown staff

Syracuse, N.Y.—A team of nine Aspen Dental clinicians recently provided free dental care to almost 400 patients during a week-long humanitarian mission to Haiti, a country still recovering from the catastrophic January 2010 earthquake.

In Haiti, dental care can take a back seat to basic survival and for some volunteers, the connection was personal. 

“It was very fulfilling for me because I was able to provide the care and talk to people in Creole and explain to them how to take better care of their mouth,” recalled dental assistant Katheline Joseph, a native of Haiti who resides in Fairfield, Connecticut. 

One of her patients, an 11-year-old girl, walked for hours to get treatment because her front teeth were filled with cavities. She pleaded to have the teeth restored and not pulled, but they were too decayed. 

Joseph told the girl she could have dentures made to bring back her smile, but she needed her mother’s consent. The next morning, the little girl and her mother were the first in line—the procedure was a success. 

“She gave me a hug and she was so happy,” said Joseph. “Her smile was priceless.” 

Dr. Schatzie Vincent, whose parents are from Haiti, invited Joseph to be a part of the team. This was the second dental mission to Haiti that Dr. Vincent led; her first was in November 2012. The team worked with Restoration Ministries—a community-based assistance group in Haiti. 

“By the time most of these people see us, extraction is the only option,” said Dr. Vincent. “People have been have been without teeth for such a long time. My heart goes out to them.” 

Dental hygienist Janette Charles remembered not having access to dental care as a child growing up on the nearby island of Dominica. Now, 20 years later, she saw much the same in Haiti. So despite the challenges of substandard conditions—generator-powered electricity and the lack of running water—and long, 12-hour days, Charles looks back with a smile. 

“You become humble doing things like that. You become more appreciative,” said Charles. “It’s a living experience.” 

This year the group brought along two lab technicians to make dentures in conditions far different from the in-office labs at the Aspen Dental practices where they work. They had to develop a field-expedient device—using a pressure cooker and a locally purchased bike tire pump to help make the dentures. 

“Being able to do what we did two years ago was awesome,” said Dr. Vincent. “The ability to make dentures brought this trip to a totally different level. Giving someone their smile and self-confidence back—and the ability to chew again—is just amazing.” 
 
 
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