Royal Army Dentist Providing Dental Care In East Africa

Thu, 18 Jun 2009

A dentist from Worcestershire is helping to provide vital dental healthcare to children and adults in Kenya .

Captain James Scott, a dentist with the Royal Army Dentist Corps, is one of only two dentists treating patients in areas where tooth decay rates are extremely high due to inconsistent fluoride levels in the water and a lack of access to toothbrushes .

Capt Scott, along with 150 other British Army medics, volunteered to go on exercise in the country, which for him involves spending four weeks on the road setting up temporary mobile dental clinics every other day in more than 12 locations across Kenya.

Demand for dental treatment is so high that, on average, 35 patients are seen to everyday at the clinics by Scott and his dental team, which includes a dental hygienist and a dental support specialist.

Many villagers from more remote locations walk more than 30 miles to be seen in the clinics, which open at 8am and close at night, as they represent the only chance they will have to receive dental care .

Commenting on his roll, he said: "Next year, hopefully, there will be three dentists on the exercise as ultimately this is the worst area of care . There are no dentists here."

"One day in Meto I took out 88 teeth and the day before 28 teeth - it entirely depends on the fluoride content of the water."

"Most teeth we have been looking at have tooth decay so if there is imminent pain we suggest taking it out because the patients are unlikely to see dental care soon. That is why the translators are so important; to ask the patients what they want me to do for them."

"If we could be in each place for a week I could do fillings, but we can’t do that in a day with the number of patients."

The former windsurfing instructor added that seeing the poor state of healthcare in the country has seen gave him a sense of perspective.

"People moan if they can’t get an appointment in a week in the UK," he said. "Imagine not seeing one in your lifetime. We are very privileged."

"In cases we are providing the first and last dentist care some of our patients will see. A lot of the patients treated have never been to a dentist before and have been in pain for a long time, and it’s a pleasure to help them."
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