A productive nine days
by Doyle Nick
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| Erik park, in his final year of dentistry, was the student leader during the mission trip to Mexico |
The trip computer read outside temperature 64° F, 4:36 p.m., speed
15 MPH, distance to destination 1,376 miles. And that is how our trip
began Sunday, March 18. Soon the plane gained speed and altitude, and
we were in Vera Cruz, Mexico, before midnight.
We were met by a few people who work with “Presidente de Municipal”
and they helped us load our belongings into a pickup and a Suburban. Then
we were off for the one-hour trip to Paso Del Macho, a town of 5,000 people
situated in the subtropical cane fields of the Atlantic slope of mountains.
The area boasts the highest point in Mexico—the 18,000-plus foot
volcano, Pico de Orizaba.
Our work centered in three villages in the surrounding areas where we
served people who have little chance to see a dentist in a regular office.
We worked six days in schoolrooms and community centers. With three mobile
dental chairs, two mobile units, an ultrasonic scaler, and an air compressor,
we cared for more than 330 people from toddlers to grandmothers.
We scaled the teeth of 150 patients, extracted 250 teeth, and placed
more than 100 restorations. We left patients with beautiful glistening
smiles instead of unsightly anterior proximal caries. We were able to
provide a few of our patients with completely restored mouths. We worked
on education, showing what dentistry can do—with much less pain and
infection. Most importantly, we hope we left them with a picture of Christian
love in action.
During our stay, we met touchingly demonstrative and appreciative people who did all they could to make us comfortable and happy. They let us sleep in their homes giving up their own beds. We were fed homemade Mexican food that would make Taco Bell and Del Taco blush, and were gracious hosts. They took us to see Indian ruins, a 15th century fort, the local sugar mill, and the highlands of Mexico. Throughout our stay they worked with our limitations and awkward communication.
Dental students Eric Park, Adrian Dumitrescu, Shannon Oh, Eddie Lopez,
Tisha Scofield, Melissa Rehling, Kenny Lam, and I will always remember
Paso Del Macho, surgical extractions, calculus bridges, mangoes, sangria
Panfiel, A Pockey box on the wall, exploding air compressor hoses, gansitos,
HOT sauce, mud, sopas, speed bumps, eggs and more eggs, rooster alarms,
and the thank-you only smiles can communicate.
Author Doyle Nick, SD’78, is an associate professor of restorative dentistry.
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| Kenny Lam, Shannon Oh, and Melissa Rehling treat dental patients in Zapotal, Vera Cruz. |
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| Letitia Scofield treats a young patient. | Eddie Lopez (left) served as translator for the group. |
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| After a long day treating dental patients, the group enjoys dinner together. |
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