CC Dental Hygiene Field School in Mexico

Random...

2011-05-21T06:49:00.000-07:00

As we near the end of our field school, we bring home with us great memories of San Pancho, the little community that could. These are just some random images of our time here.

Krista reporting...

2011-05-20T05:17:00.000-07:00

I feel very lucky to have met the dentists that work at the hospital and have the opportunity to collaborate with them. I had a better idea of the dental care that is offered in Mexico. I found out through our days at the hospital that the people are frustrated with the process of accessing the dentists, and the dentists too are frustrated at being unable to give quality care when they do not have the necessary supplies and equipment to provide the treatment they are trained to deliver. Although it may not be the same standard of care as Canada, they do the best they can with what they have. Having an x-ray machine from the 70's and equipment that don't work properly makes me feel lucky to have all that we have at home, as it allows us to provide the care that we are trained to provide. I can imagine the frustration that would come with not having up-to-date equipment, and a shortage of supplies. It was a great experience overall and really enjoyed hearing the dentists' perspective on dentistry in Mexico and their role that they played while in the hospital dental clinic.

Shannon reporting...

2011-05-20T05:10:00.000-07:00

I feel grateful to have worked in the San Pancho hospital, but not for the reasons I thought I would. I had thought it would be a relief to once again have the office equipment I needed at hand. I soon discovered that the antique equipment unfolded a whole new set of challenges - ones which I adapted to more naturally though than during our first week in Entre Amigo’s makeshift clinic. Instead I was grateful for two other things: to be able to provide more comfortable care for my patients by administering local anesthetic (as it is a very difficult thing to debride someone’s teeth knowing they are in agony with every stroke you make), and to be able to collaborate with dentists here who are eager to share their knowledge, skills and limited resources to benefit a patient’s oral health. Two of my patients now have appointments with the dentists next Monday for restorative needs. What a satisfying feeling it is when team work is centered on advocacy and a common goal.

We heavily relied on our translators in the hospital, both in communicating with hospital staff as well as with our patients. When providing professional oral healthcare it is critical to include information about the daily follow-up at home the patient can do to maximize the potential of the healing process. Without the dedication of our translators, our work would be a band-aid solution and would have little long-term benefits for our clients. Through working in the hospital, I have more perspective and empathy of what it might be like for an immigrant to Canada who is in need of healthcare but is not able to communicate this need.

Our last day of clinic was a long but satisfying one; we completed all our clients and finished at 7pm. Afterwards I ran the length of the San Pancho beach which was difficult, but not as difficult as knowing that there are many more people here we did not have time to provide dental hygiene services for. From this experience I take away the bitter-sweet knowledge that what I can do will never be enough, but what I can do is something.

Sam reporting...

2011-05-20T04:58:00.000-07:00

Collaborating with the dentist at the hospital, Dr. Pa-ul, was an exciting experience. He is very interested in what we were doing and stayed around for a few days to complete some consults on some of our patients who presented with decay and periodontal problems. The dental clinic is furnished with two very old dental chairs, a portable x-ray unit from the 70's, a manual x-ray developer, a refrigerator to house some restorative materials, and little else. The amount of dental supplies were sorely lacking. Dr. Pa-ul mentioned that it is frustrating when a client is in need of treatment that he cannot provide because the materials are not available. In this environment, all anyone can do is provide the best oral health care possible, with limited resources. I have now come to fully realize the need for complete dental care in this community, and I feel that in the month that we were here, we have contributed to a portion of this goal.

Our remaining days at the dental clinic in San Francisco, Nayarit...

2011-05-20T04:47:00.000-07:00

Approximately 40 hours later, we finished our commitment at the hospital dental clinic at the San Francisco Regional Hospital. The following images are of our last two days there. I was privileged to meet the director of the hospital on the 3rd day in interesting circumstances. He walked over to the dental clinic looking for the two resident dentists. He said, "there's been an accident and I'd like them to have a look." When he couldn't find them, he suggested that I come with him. With no hesitation, I went but my heart raced with anticipation. What was I to find in the emergency ward? As we rounded the corner and walked another 50 feet to a cordoned off area, I see at least 7 emergency personnel over a hospital bed trying to subdue the accident victim. As I walked closer to the bed, I noticed blood on the floor and the sound of a man who was in obvious pain. He already had a neckbrace placed on him, showed visible signs of broken arms, broken legs, swollen lips, and face. As I looked over the man, I was prepared to be asked about broken teeth, possibly avulsed teeth but instead the hospital director moved the man's teeth forward and his entire maxillo facial bones moved and collapsed. I was looking at a man with a fractured skull and there was not much I can do. I looked at the doctors and raised my shoulders to clearly send this message..."sorry, guys this is out of my scope of practice." The doctor extended his arm to give me a handshake, and sent me on my way. I was of no use to them. I felt helpless. Later that day, I was told that he was sent to a Tepic hospital (2 hours north of SF) to get more appropriate care.

The beginning of another day.

Dr. Pa-ul and Shannon discussing patient's caries status.

Krista's turn to do 'stand-up dentistry'

The loupes were used and appreciated, even in this ergonomically challenging conditions.

Two office chairs = 1 dental chair

The operator chair was wobbly and not adjustable. Shannon making do while accessing sextant 6.

The only dental x-ray unit in the hospital...circa 1970's?

Dentsply Ultrasonic....DeVilBliss Portable Evacuation Unit

One of our patient's way of saving his back! ;-(

Marcelino and the women of Camosun! He came back for a second appointment so that Sam can complete his treatment!

Shannon showing Celia how to floss. She was most keen.

Ada and Shannon working together. The clock was ticking and it was getting close to 6pm....way past our scheduled closing time.

Nice technique, Sam.

Getting close to the end of the day on our last day at the hospital...with two severe periodontally-involved patients still to complete, we weren't going anywhere fast.

Shannon starting to clean-up while Krista was busy-ly working away.

A great relationship was formed between Celia and Shannon. Big hugs were exchanged by all after treatment was completed. Celia was most happy to have been anesthesized for the procedure.

We had just enough time to catch the sunset after our 7pm closing time at the hospital. While sitting on the beach, one of our patients came over to gift us with handmade necklaces for all the ladies and a bracelet for me. Very sweet.

Giving thanks to Jinaro.

Awww...he's putting it on for me.

Luigi, a local surfer indulged us with this photo.

High-fivin' ....

The waves were particularly high that evening. This is San Pancho @ post sunset.

Dental clinic @ the Hospital

2011-05-18T05:52:00.000-07:00

The following are images are from the last two days at the San Francisco Regional Hospital where a two chair dental unit is available for the public. Currently, there are two 'field dentists' who are here during the weekdays and one dentist who works in the weekends. The field dentists are new graduates, and are sent to different hospitals around the country to do a year's worth of 'social work' and dentistry before they begin private practice, continue with further schooling, or other things. They were most helpful to us and stayed around in the very cramped dental area to observe, to assist, and to collaborate.

In preparation to receiving clients on our first day, Glades found a palm branch to sweep off some of the debris laying on floor by the front door.

Very cramped quarters for three dental hygienists. We had to create a makeshift dental chair with office chairs for the third person. It was the best that we can do.

Another view of our layout.

The door on the left leads to the hospital back hallway and the door to the right of it, leads to the outside where patients wait for their turn.

Our interpreter/helper, Rio helping shine a light on Krista's client.

This dental light emits a strange light that shines on the client's entire face.

This dental cart does not work and as you can see, it is very old.

Sam and Krista briefly worked together on a patient who has severely periodontally-involved dentition, and also has cancer and very compromised health history. Very interesting for all of us.

Shannon gathering health history data in Spanish. ;-)

One of Shannon's clients on the first day who provided excellent learning for her, particularly with debridement and health history issues.

A happy patient who brought all of us homemade crocheted purses as gifts. One other patient later stopped by the clinic to drop off a bag full of fresh fruits!

An area near one of the dental units, featuring Dentsply ultrasonic and Devilbliss Portable Suction.

My Mexico office/patio. Breakfast of hot cereal and soy milk before work.

A good view of one of the dental units. The stool is supporting the ultrasonic unit. We did not use the spitoon (don't think it works that well). The dental chair has to be manually reclined. Sam diligently sharpening her instruments before seating her first patient of the second day.

Krista gets the "office chair" today as her unit. She is sharpening and still smiling!

Just completed two of the three clients this morning, Bola and Regina.

Lunch of quesadilla and pork tacos at a nearby taqueria by the hospital.

Sam and Marcelino. He has never had dental hygiene treatment before. We were very happy to see him and he was most appreciative and patient and interested in what we were doing. We were only able to complete a couple of sextants this afternoon but we had an opening two days later. He seemed eager to return. Cross our fingers!

It was stand-up dentistry for the entire day for this "unit".

We consulted with Dr. Paul (Pa-ool) on Krista's patient who presented with severely mobile teeth, exudate, and abscess on the maxillary anteriors. He suggested that he take an x-ray of the area. The x-ray machine was at least 30 years old. He held the film in place while he took the x-ray. There was not a lead apron to be found. Shannon and her client left the room for a brief moment while he took the x-rays. He manually developed it. The film showed that the roots were encased with calculus and was barely supported by bone. We talked about splinting the two teeth together but there were no materials available to do the work. In the end, debridement/curretage with LA was the best treatment that we can offer.

More pictures to come of our remaining days at the hospital.

A night out....

2011-05-16T21:24:00.000-07:00

A scheduled dinner meeting place at Tacos by Eva's did not pan out. So we just continued to walk up the hill to Cafe del Mar.

Waiting for Glades....

...and still waiting for Glades

A view of San Pancho from a hill.

Tacos by Eva. Serrado. (closed for business)

At a garden at Cafe del Mar.

Bougainvellia

Cluster of coconuts.

...still waiting for Glades. ;-)

...@ escuela de secondaria.

2011-05-16T06:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we started our first of four long clinic days at the hospital. Before that, we spent our last day at the schools with the Grades 7, 8, and 9 students, ages 14 to 16 year old.

Waiting to enter the den of 16 year olds.

Some paid attention. Some did not.

The crowd in the back of the classroom was particularly vocal.

Sam explaining to Regina (our translator) what to say.

The Grades 7 and 8 were more receptive...

and rushed to the classroom where we we completed the screenings.

Sam in action.

There were more boys than girls in this school. Almost 4 to 1 ratio.

Krista in action.

Shannonita (self-dubbed) in action

I had to get in the act as well.

The last of the group at the end of the day. We completed screening 90 children. Sam and I doing our "Ayeh pose".

Later that day, we walked over to the hospital to talk to the director to confirm our clinic days with them. On one of the offices, Shannon saw this interesting juxtaposition.

...@ jardin de los ninos

2011-05-14T18:26:00.000-07:00

In the kindergarten school, we attended both sessions. We were there at 9am and 2pm to see a total of 34 4 and 5 year old children. What a lovely day that was!!! The students wanted to stay longer and play.

Glades was our presenter/interpreter that morning.

There is always that one child in every classroom who knows all the answers! ;-)

In this class, it was Antonio Jose.

Like most public schools in Mexico, the children wear uniform.

We asked, "Who could open their mouth as wide as possible?"

After we gave each child a toothbrush, we showed them how to brush their teeth, and they showed us how to do it. We were bonding big time!

After the presentation, we took them to the classroom next door to perform the screening and fluoride application.

Translation and picture-taking! (see Sam in the background).

One of the few kids who had no decay in this class.

Sam wants to take at least one home.

They were all shy at first. This little girl was so sweet with Shannon.

Very proud...and very cute!

The chair was a tad small for us...but we made it work.

Krista and her little girl, waiting for Glades to write a special note in Spanish on her screening form. We also gave each child a balloon after the screening.

This little boy showing Shannon quite seriously how he brushes the inside of his front teeth.

We were all smiles all day! Who wouldn't be...with these children?

Sadly, this population group showed the highest decay rate of all the schools we visited. Although, we feel that our field school is making a positive impact with our visits to the schools for the last 5 years, seeing this amount of decay rate at this age level was a clear indication that more education needs to occur with the parents and families directly.

At the end of our morning session!

Las chicas, big and small!

Sam and one of the children doing cartwheels on the grass.

Waiting at the gate for the 2pm kindergarten session.

Indira helped us in the afternoon.

They look so serious, don't they? They were really paying attention. Very sweet.

At the end of our 2pm session and another productive day.

...at Escuela del Mundo

2011-05-13T16:08:00.000-07:00

Labelled toothbrushes for every child at the preschool area.

The little 5 year olds sat on shortened coconut tree trunks while we screened them.

Screening under the Bacea tree.

Little Enzo helping to retract his own lip for Samantha!

Happy Enzo!

We came just as the students were completing their midmorning snack

which explains this toothbrushing session picture.

Waiting to be screened.

The preschoolers were also expected to wash their own plates and cups which they used for their midmorning snack. This outdoor faucet facilitated the cleaning very nicely.

Jackets, sweatshirts, sweaters hung on the children's area. Really?

This little one was apprehensive in the beginning. The maestra provided support by

sitting beside her throughout the screening. It worked.

Shannon is becoming more adept at instructing oral hygiene techniques in Spanish. Muy bueno!

Waiting for their turn.

Organic, Paper, Plastic, Aluminum, etc.

A short break before our preschool presentation.

In the meantime, mama chicken and her chicks roamed around the school.

...in a circle with the preschoolers.

Krista and Shannon lead the discussion while Vero (a staff member) translated.

Naptime for at least one student in the middle of the presentation.

After our presentation, Erik and Salvador dropped by unexpectedly to show the children the Ahea monster ( a reptile rarely seen in these parts) before they let it go again in the jungle.

In another area of the school underneath the palapa, a music workshop is

taking place for the Grade 1 and 2 children. He comes twice a week from Sayulita to teach music to the children.

Our basic screening kit. It was a bit breezy this day. The rocks help to secure our paper tray down.

Shannon has an audience of 1 while she is teaching

another child how to brush.

A hibiscus flower for Krista. A gift from one of the students at Escuela del Mundo.

Spelt pancakes & canadian maple syrup....

2011-05-13T14:20:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Krista, Sam, and Shannon invited me, Glades and family, and Indira and family for a breakfast brunch at their bungalow serving a true Canadian breakfast. (all items 'sin' bacon and fruitas were brought from Canada). Thank you ladies for hosting and sharing a delicious meal. Buenisimo!

Krista prepping.

Shannon, Glades, Rio, and Gael having a moment. ;-)

Indira and Alan came too!

Digging in....

Indira introducing her son, Amauta to the ladies.

Buen provisio! Yummy pancakes & maple syrup, bacon (Sam loves bacon), and fruit salad.

Shannon reporting...

2011-05-10T11:52:00.000-07:00

Screening each grade of the Primaria school children was an experience full of giggles and high fives, eagerly raised hands to answer oral health questions, and amazingly good behaviour; once we asked them to open their mouth to take a look they kept as still as a statue with their mouth wide open. I was so impressed that the children knew more about the prevention and process of dental caries (cavities) and gingival disease than I knew when I entered the dental hygiene program. I think this is due in great part to the dedication from the Primaria school teachers and community volunteers who have continued oral health education and daily practices at school between yearly visits from the Camosun field schools. Ada tells us that the grade five-six class had a markedly lower cavity rate than when they were in kindergarten five years ago when the first Camosun field school visited San Pancho. Personally, I feel like I had a small but powerful force in the wave of this generation of children as they’re growing up (OK, I had to make a wave analogy – we are having a beginner’s surf lesson tomorrow!). I felt my role in this force was two-fold: I was able to help modify some tooth brushing techniques to improve effectiveness with a few individuals and also I provided information for others to aid their parents’ decisions. For example, although one child had a cavity, it wasn’t imperative that he visited the dentist because the cavity was on a primary tooth that would be exfoliating soon. There were several factors to consider in reaching that sort of a decision, such as the risk of the infection spreading to permanent adult teeth, oral health status and practices, and financial barriers. A cavity restoration with the hospital dentist entails several costly appointments, time away from school and time away from work for the accompanying parent.

At first I felt unsatisfied with the short time for screening assessments and self-care. Being used to 20 minutes of intraoral time to gather information to create a care plan with a child patient, here I could only allot about 5 minutes of assessment time! The language barrier also was tough at first as I felt like I was unable to provide individualized care when I couldn’t speak with the child in Spanish. Being a perfectionist, I really struggled with these changes during the first day. But as I shifted my attitude from thinking about all the oral care I couldn’t provide for the child towards what I could show or tell the child to improve their situation, I started to enjoy the challenge and pick up speed without compromising care. To an outsider, this is a simple and obvious realization which can be followed by the appropriate courses of action. But it can be tricky when you are trying to shift your own way of thinking: I had to lose my inhibitions a bit. Feeling anxious when I couldn’t achieve perfection is not a great example to set for a child. I was able to tell those with tooth decay solely on mobile primary teeth that although "tu tenga caries, pero no visita dentista, y mas imporant por..." then I did the tooth brushing motion with my hand because I keep forgetting the word! But they seemed to understand and when they had questions I would flag down Ada or our accommodating interpreter, Indira. By focusing on finding balance in decisions like referring the child to the dentist, I am becoming more proficient at prioritizing interventions for an individual. Also, the variety of seeing and feeling such a wide variety of arrested decay, fluorosis, decay on mobile primary teeth and decay in pits of molars really fast-tracked my caries detection skills. This week I have felt empowered by being able to develop these affective, cognitive and psychomotor skills which I can apply to my future practice.

Krista reporting...

2011-05-10T11:49:00.000-07:00

Last week while visiting the primaria school it was really neat to see how the kids remember the information from the presentations that they saw in previous years. They are so eager to learn and are excited when they find
out they have no cavities. Many of the children brush 3 times each day which is a huge commitment for a young child, and it really made me happy andproud when they would open their mouth and you see strong, healthy teeth. I really believe that each year the fieldschool happens that it makes a huge impact on the kids in the community. They know that someone cares and they otherwise might not get the chance to learn how to care for their teeth. The teachers at the school also realize that incorporating oral health into the curriculum is important and have started making an effort to include it all year long, not just when Camosun College is visiting. Most of the children had toothbrushes already but there was still some that did not, which demonstrates there is still an ongoing need in the community. Visiting the school and knowing there is decrease in caries each year is exciting and really made me realize how remarkable the entire program is. Our interpreter, Indira also commented on the change. She has seen it for herself over the last 5 years. Prevention is so much more realistic as many families cannot afford to visit the dentist and get cavities fixed. It was sad to see the children that did have a lot of cavities and it was

hard not to let my emotions show on my face. It was important so that the children are comfortable and do not feel embarrassed. Now when we walk past all the children in the town they smile and wave shyly every time, I guess we stick out a little bit ;)

Samantha reporting...

2011-05-10T11:45:00.000-07:00

We have finished three days at the Primaria School in San Pancho. I have been looking forward to this experience and it lived up to all of my expectations. It was amazing and a something that I will never forget. We were told by Ada, and even our interpreter, Indira that the cavity rate has decreased since the first year Camosun College Dental Hygiene Students visited San Pancho. I believe this is due to the increased knowledge of oral health and yearly fluoride applications and this is where Camosun College has truly contributed to making a difference in the oral and overall health of this community. I am proud to a part of this success story.

Since this is the fifth year of presenting information on nutrition, bacteria and caries process, we took a different approach and decided to ask them what they could recall from the previous years’ presentation instead. I was surprised by the enthusiastic responses we received and the knowledge that they have retained and shared. I will bring this back home with me in that while treating children, the sharing and learning about oral health information should be more interactive and fun. The children are all so genuinely grateful and I get so overwhelmed with emotions when they give me hugs of thanks. Their appreciation has taught me to respect and enjoy the smaller things in life that we may take for granted living in Canada. I am looking forward to visiting three more schools next week, the kindergarten, the co-op school, and the high school!

Day 3 in the Primaria school

2011-05-10T07:17:00.000-07:00

Day 3: Today we would see three classrooms of Grades 5 and 6

Indira is a natural. She has been doing this with us for the last 5 years and talks from the heart. She knows the perio and caries process inside out and she mesmerizes the kids. I have learned to explain the process in Spanish by listening to her.

We gave each of the kids toothbrushes and spend time reviewing technique before we screened for caries and applied fluoride.

Would you like azul or verde? Shannon giving out toothbrushes.

Training Indira to apply fluoride was necessary as we needed help.

Even the 'big' kids were just as attentive as the little ones.

By 9am, it was starting to get warm. We begin our day at 8am and finish between 1 and 2.

Here we are, reviewing brushing technique.

Sam was always all smiles. We didn't need our headlamps because it was pretty light in the dining area, compared to the classrooms.

Meet the Mexican Samantha and the Canadian Samantha.

Sorry about the wonky picture. Here's Krista doing a screening.

More of Indira applying fluoride. She only wanted to wear one glove - too wasteful. True enough. ;-)

Que bonita!!!

Right outside the principal's office. We were waiting to meet with all the teachers.

We asked Indira to explain what we did for the children in the last three days and that we are now seeing the improvement in their children's oral health. We also asked how feasible is it to incorporate proper nutrition, caries process, and periodontal process in their curriculum. The response was enthusiastic so that gave us hope. They have a new principal this year who valued the idea of our visit and our objective.

Each teacher received toothbrushes for themselves and their families. It was nice to be able to meet with them as a group. This was the first time that we were welcomed into the staff room for a meeting with all teachers. A real positive step.

Making our way home from another productive day.

Two days at the Escuela de Primaria...

2011-05-04T22:13:00.000-07:00

Monday means doing the 'flag ceremony" before classes begin.

Here we are, watching the procession.

Another point of view.

This year, we set up our screening area in the open dining area rather than moving from classroom to classroom. This approach worked much better with our lower numbers.

Learning with the Grade 2's.

Shannonita, trying to figure out how not to break the aseptic chain while recording. Difficult.

This little boy knew all the answers to our Oral Health review. We decided to use a different approach with our presentations this year. We asked questions right from the start. All the questions pertained to the content of the binder that we have used for the last 4 years. We were pleasantly surprised to see that they remembered all of the functions of teeth, the caries process, and the methods of prevention.

Sam's little boy did not have any caries!

Sam showing a group of Grade 3's how to brush.

See the little girl in a fleece jacket? It's 28 degrees!

This Grade 4 girl shared her sticker with Sam.

No front teeth and no caries. Yay!

Grade 3. Only 5 in this class had decay. A vast improvement from previous years.

The children were very attentive. This is Indira, our presenter and interpreter.

Recess. By 930am, the heat starts to be quite palpable.

Back to more screenings.

Purple Power!

How can you not love that face?

This is Tania. She really took to Rie, a 2007 field school alumni when she was in Kindergarten. Rie: you'll be happy to know that she is doing much better with her oral health.

What are you finding, Shannon?

Okay, how about this face? Look at that smile!

Duraflor varnish on makeshift pads.

Grade 5 students making their way to the presentation.

The students race to occupy the front row.

Es muy importante cepillarse los dientes tres veses por dia.

Such eager learners!

We moved to a classroom at the end of our session there, as they were using the 'dining area' to practice a dance for Mother's Day next week.

Setting up for screening 18 children in this classroom. By the second day, we were in the groove.

Last child to screen this day and no decay! Shannon is a happy camper!

I will post our 3rd day at the Escuela de Primaria next time.

Sunday was a day of rest...

2011-05-02T22:20:00.000-07:00

A short excursion to Punta Negra, a quiet beach south of San Pancho to decompress and rejuvenate. Our host, Glades and her two sons, Rio and Gael, accompanied us. Shannon's comment at the end of our first week stay said it all, "It''s good to feel alive again." Indeed, it is.

A race to one end of the beach and back!

Who can do the best 'back bend'?

Who can do the most cartwheels in a row?

A stop in Sayulita before making our way home. First, tacos at el ivan, the best in this part of the world then helado (ice cream) treat before we head home.

Krista reporting...

2011-05-01T21:05:00.000-07:00

It feels like we have already settled into the San Pancho life here. We have
only been here about a week but we have done so much that even if we were to
leave tomorrow, I would feel that the trip was a success. Before we left Victoria, we were told by field school alumni and Ada about how patient and appreciative the clients here are but to experience it for ourselves has been amazing in these first few clinics. We have seen some interesting cases of people who have never been to a Dental Hygienist and are so grateful to
have us. We want to do more for them than what we have to offer. I have had the chance to see a client that has been coming to the field school dental hygiene clinic since the beginning. Through a translator she said that she was in so much pain and had mobility in her teeth, and that now her gums are healthy and there is no more pain or movement in her teeth. Definitely, a highlight of the trip so far is seeing the motivation in the clients, even evident in teenage boys(usually the hardest to motivate). While visiting Sayulita one day, we found a vendor who sold coconut juice right out of the coconut. I bought and drank one and it was a highlight! It was also in Sayulita where Ada said it was pretty geeky of me to write "Dental Hygiene 11" in the sand. ;-)

At first it was hard to adjust to the hot nights, our gecko friend in the bathroom, and waking up to roosters every morning, but I think I might miss these things when we get back to our fast paced life in Canada. Here, there is no rushing, no stress, and it is not uncommon for people to have very low blood pressure, quite the opposite of home.

It's a been a whole new world in clinic. Dogs roaming around the clinic with us, kids and babies patiently waiting for their parents to be finished with no complaints, nothing to entertain
them but themselves, and the hum of the fan that keeps us cool while we are working hard, but don't worry Ada does let us relax a little bit too...all in all the week has been amazing, filled with great experiences. Next week we go to the schools, where we will be screening about 400 children by the time we leave. Can't wait!

Shannon reporting...

2011-05-01T20:53:00.000-07:00

The kind-hearted, family atmosphere of this small community is such a supportive environment to learn and grow in, both personally and professionally. Our clinics have been intense and wonderfully focused. One thing I am struggling with is the discovery that the dentists in the local hospital do not have the resources they need; their hands are tied because they are unable to perform the skills at which they have been trained. There is no budget for filling materials so many of my patients are left with parts of their tooth missing after a dental cavity has been removed which can lead to future problems. It is difficult to know that doing your best with what you have got is sometimes not enough.

Collaborating with Ada, Krista and Sam and community members has quickly developed into a smoothly running solid team. Each of my patients has left a unique impact on me as we have bonded over working together to overcome what I had considered barriers. My patients have shown me that a common language is not a necessity to discover oral health beliefs and concerns, nor is basic clinic equipment such as swivel chairs, light for seeing in the mouth or saliva suction necessary to provide compassionate dental hygiene care at the quality I have learned at Camosun. The calm, positive energy my patients radiate has permeated into my practice and given me a perspective I feel I needed to be able to reach the next phase of my learning. I am starting to value the importance of creating a sense of serenity as I work, as I am finding that any hint of rush or pressure is so transparent to my patients. Being calmer not only helps my patients feel more at ease, but allows me to be more effective with my technical and critical thinking skills so I can provide quality care. Has all this really happened in just a week? It feels more like a half a term’s worth of learning! I am inspired to apply what I have learned this first week into the rest of my time here, and to eventually be able to carry it on into practicing dental hygiene at home.

Sam reporting...

2011-05-01T20:49:00.000-07:00

Upon arrival in San Pancho we felt that we were immediately immersed in the Mexican culture. There is a real sense of community here and being that this is the fifth year that the field school has been in existence here, we have been welcomed as San Pancho residents. We have completed one week of clinic at Entreamigos community center. I have come to a realization of how much we take for granted of all of the equipment that we use in our school clinic, such as the swivel operator chairs and overhead lights. My adaptability skills are vastly improving while we had to piece together an entire clinic from materials we found around the recycling area of the community center. I also noticed that people not only bring themselves to the dental clinic for their appointments but they also bring their entire family. I have several theories as to why but will think about that more before I write it down. The gratitude and appreciation that we receive from all of the amazing clients that we have seen so far is unforgettable.

I have learned more from this experience already than I could ever imagine. I still have a lot of work to do on my Spanish but I am improving every day. The food is all so fresh and colourful. I am trying to be adventurous and try new foods every day. So far I have had sautéed octopus, smoked marlin, and mole sauce on turkey enchiladas. I am really looking forward to next week where we will be going to the schools and providing oral hygiene education, performing caries screening and applying fluoride varnish to about 250 children. Adios for now!

Una semana en San Pancho

2011-05-01T07:21:00.000-07:00

One week has passed in San Pancho.

Meeting amazing and generous people....check.
Sunset on the beach...check.
Working on the most patient patients and their children...check.
Eating the freshest salsa this side of the border...check
Trying to study for national board exams...check.
Learning about and experiencing the Mexican culture...check.
Adapting all we've learned in clinic in the last year into 1 week...check.

Next week...schools!

Early in the morning before patients arrived (Sam is already working on hers). We stepped out in the back of Entreamigos to view the community garden.

Basil!!!

Glades learning how to pick the herbs.

The master gardener showing Shannon tips on how to grow basil.

Krista's first patient today, Sergio.

Today was our last day at Entreamigos. Sam and Shannon breaking down our units.

....ultrasonics were disassembled

...while Krista was still working on her second client.

Ada getting an adjustment from Pablo...later he did the same to Krista, Sam, and Shannon. Nicel

The clinic is now shut down. Look at those sad faces.

We closed the place down. Everyone has left in preparation for the celebration of life event happening later on that day.

Walking home with the supplies that we'll need for the schools this Monday.

Later that evening, the ladies stopped by my casita to pick me up. We were invited to attend the celebration.

Blurry but I thought it captured the energy of the room. Here, the ladies are lining up to buy clay oven-baked pizza and cervezas in honor of Gallo. Gallo used to own the pizzeria. Gallo also welcomed the 2010 field school participants last year at a nearby orchid farm that he was managing at that time, where he gave us a free tour. Many people from all walks of life came to the event to dance and talk and celebrate his contribution to their lives and community. A touching evening.

Someone painted a mural of Gallo on this wall two days before the event.

Today, we rest.

San Francisco General Hospital

2011-04-30T07:17:00.000-07:00

This is a familiar background for those who have been following the field school over the years.
This picture was taken in front of the hospital.

Siked!!! (inside joke)

The always gracious, Dr. Ortega. He was the first person to receive us at 8am this morning.
The director is away on holidays.

Glades, our host coordinator is making sure that communication between the new and only Spanish-speaking dentists, Dr. Paulo and Dr. Christian and our group is not lost in translation.

Dr. Paulo, yes... he's a dentist (age 24) gave us a tour of the hospital.

We didn't quite get to the new wing of the hospital as the doors were locked. ;-(

On our way to get ready for clinic, but stopped to get fresh squeezed orange juice first.

One of our patients today, Elmina and her 7 month old baby girl.

This entire family was our patient pool today...minus the little baby, Azul (little girl in the center) and the dog. ;-)

Walking home and out of our scrubs, Shannon found 'jackfruit' almost ready for pickin'.

Will be back here tomorrow night as we were invited to attend a celebration of life event for one of
the members of this community who died recently.

Tres dias en la clinica dental...

2011-04-28T22:51:00.000-07:00

Third day of clinic. We are groovin' now. It dawned on me today how much quieter these last few clinics have been compared to the last two field schools. I had forgotten how noisy the vacuum cleaner (aka suction machine) was that we were using at that time. We are making do with the two portable suction machines while Shannon has been asking her clients to spit into a cup. The quieter times, however, bring forth a different kind of noise that we somehow managed to escape in previous years. Every now and again, the sound of shattering glass jars our senses. The Center is after all, a recycling area too. ;-)

Tomorrow @ 8am, our host will take us to the hospital for our tour and to hopefully secure clinic dates in two weeks. Next week, we start our school visits.

Below are pictures from our clinic today.

T'is early and the doors are closed. Waiting....waiting....waiting....

Ahhh, here comes Shannon! Buenas dias....

Then there's Sam and Krista. Hola!

Coach at work....

Schedule for the week.

Can you say....nice posture?

Kneeling....but a nice neutral position.

The patient is obviously happy. Check out the "thumbs up!"

I took care of the drop-in kids. Sergio is 13.

Sam and Gilbert. CC

Shannon and Tzipatzin.

Albina and her children, Victor and Elmira. She has been receiving care from our clinic since 2007 and I would consider her one of our success stories. She is so motivated and receptive to care and has made remarkable positive changes in her oral health. She has been passing this value on to her children and it is evident by their good home care and low caries risk.

Before she left, it was kisses and hugs to Krista (she was Krista's client) and to Sam , who worked on her daughter.

Off with the scrubs for the walk home...but first trying out a new food, guamoche,
A gift from Tzipatzin, Shannon's patient.

Till next time....buenas noches!

Day 2 Clinic...

2011-04-28T06:58:00.000-07:00

We worked out the kinks from Day 1 and the second day went a lot smoother. The students have the advantage of a 3-1 ratio. Nice for me too. ;-) The improvement from yesterday to today's clinic was exponential. The students are committed and focused. This makes me happy.

Waiting for someone to open the door. They forgot that we started earlier than everyone at the Center and we waited for 30 minutes. Oh well....

Angel and his Mom, Maria. Ada's patient for the day.

Bird's eye view of our little clinic.

Sam's patient for today. Her name is Alicia.

We decided to walk up the beach to get an early dinner and to debrief about the day's clinic. The conversation started with what courses have posted grades on Camlink, to questions on the National Board exam, and ended with grad festivities. Three hours later, we called it a day.

A treat after a good day's work.

Octopus and potatoes. Way to go, Sam.

Couldn't resist taking a picture of this beautiful entry way.

7pm: Walking back home. Students were anxious to do homework. For real.

Are we really here?

2011-04-26T21:31:00.000-07:00

Leaving Victoria @ 655am. Taken in front of Westjet counter.

Aisle seat for Shannon. Yay!...but window seat for Sam? Not! The attendants moved them to a completely different row to make sure Sam gets to see outside! ;-)

First night at San Pancho. Dinner @ La Perla's

Oops...this should have been on the next entry. We just finished with a clinic set-up here.

The following pictures are of the little tour that I took the ladies on, featuring the local park and Calle Asia)

Set-up Day

2011-04-26T21:00:00.000-07:00

As we were organizing for our clinic, the students commented on how good it was to rely on their creativity and resourcefulness to set up a unit/clinic that will meet their needs for the time that we are in this building.

There was still plenty of sun left after we completed the clinic set-up. On the way home, we stopped at a local eatery called, Baja Tacos for an early dinner, then headed for an excursion to Sayulita, with our host Glades.

Our clinic days have started...

2011-04-26T20:39:00.000-07:00

Need a taller chair for Shannon. Please avert your eyes from the electrical hazard.

Nice ergonomics, Sam. Check out the handy dandy crates for dental units.

90 degree bend for Krista. Not so comfortable.

Clean area.

One knee stand technique by Krista.

Dirty Area

Self-care supplies

We will be at Entreamigos Community Center for the next 5 days. We are scheduled to see 1 patient per student for each day, setting a goal of completing a client in 4 hours. Today we saw two Class 3s and 1 Class 4 and 5 children. In the end, we spent 6 hours at the center from set-up to clean-up time. Two patients are returning and one was completed. Yay!

Field School 2011: Bring on Spring...

2011-04-24T10:47:00.000-07:00

I am happy to report that our trip to Mexico was uneventful. Our direct flight to Puerto Vallarta left Victoria at 6:55am on Saturday. At the customs inspection area in PV , the red light came on for Shannon and I thus necessitating 5 out of the 8 pieces of luggage to be opened. We calmly explained why we had suitcases full of dental equipment and supplies and with a little negotiating, we managed to get out of the airport unscathed and with all our items in tow. Whew!

It was another 40 minute drive up North until we settled into our respective accommodations. We shared dinner together with our host coordinator, Glades before we all turned in for the night. Today is organizing day and acclimatizing to our surroundings. Hasta luego.

Jeanie reporting

2010-06-04T02:07:00.000-07:00

This adventure has cometo an end but the people that we have worked with will forever grow in our hearts. I continually reflect back on our experience and it was so special to have been a part of this journey. We have all grown both as professionals and as individuals building life skills.

This experience truly cannot be replicated. It was so incredible to be able to share our experience with Dr. Grillo and his team. With the entire team, we were able to provide complete dental treatments and relief our clients of pain.

I often think of all the clients that we have worked on and truly miss them all. I am so pleased to have such great memories and will continue to reflect upon them as I embark on a new journey.

Until next year...

2010-06-02T15:03:00.000-07:00

Saying goodbye at the airport to Pedro and Daniel.

Arrived in Calgary (overnight layover) that evening and found ourselves shivering outside the airport while we waited for our shuttle to our hotel.

Home at last!

Victoria International Airport, May 22, 2010

(missing from photo, Emma, Tanis, Robin)

As we end another year of dental hygiene field school in Mexico, we would like to say one final thank you to everyone who was involved in making this field school happen. As a teacher, this experience epitomizes for me what service-learning is all about. It was a privilege to teach with this group of students, who came into this project with their eyes, arms, and hearts open. There were many lessons learned from a personal and professional level. It is my hope that they continue to reflect on this experience with pride and humility in knowing that their service to the community made a difference in people's lives. Salud!

Candyce Reporting.....

2010-06-01T16:38:00.000-07:00

For me, it was a difficult transition back into the busy lifestyle of Canadians. Also, coming back into normal dental hygiene practice was a little overwhelming. I had to really take my time and think about where I needed to be sitting to ensure that my ergonomics were proper. This experience had such an impact on me, I hope that I will always remember appreciation that the people in San Pancho had for us. I hope that everyonehas a chance to do this in their lifetime, as this was a great learning experience for me. I will be back next year for sure!!!!!!!

Danielle reporting...

2010-05-30T21:55:00.001-07:00

Our travels have come to an end and we have been home for one week. It has been a transition back into life and routine, especially since it has been raining and cold in Victoria since we've returned. As I reflect on our experiences, I am grateful for the knowledge that I have gained about the culture of San Pancho and the relationships that we established. It was amazing to live, breathe and eat San Pancho and to feel as though we had our place within the community. I have grown both personally and professionally and will carry the skills that I have learned with me in my future practices as a dental hygienist.

Sarah Reporting

2010-05-30T21:55:00.000-07:00

Well, we have been home for the last week now so I have had a bit of time to reflect on the time that we spent in San Pancho. I learned so much clinically, especially in the last five clinic days, whether it be coaching from Ada, the input of my partner for the day or getting new tips and tricks from Jane. It was such a fun and different learning experience, though the days were long, hot, and sweaty, fans helped when we had them. The people and volunteers we met were amazing- so welcoming and helpful and clients were extremely appreciative and open to learning. There is so much work that still needs to be done in this community, but I was really glad that I could be a part of this project now, and hope that I can help out with it in the future.

Kellie reporting...

2010-05-26T11:32:00.000-07:00

So we are all safely home and it didn't take long to adjust to life back at home. I don't miss waking up to roosters or being bitten by the mosquito's that seemed to love me so much, but I will miss everything else. I will miss the feeling we came to know of being welcomed into such a small tight knit community and people stopping to say hello as you walk through town. Being home makes it blatantly apparent just how different our two cultures are.
The people of San Pancho have taught me so much. I've always been pretty easy going, but now I've learned to 'go with the flow' and that whatever happens, "it's no problem." Something I didn't need reinforcement on was procrastination, which I'm already great at, because here they are famous for saying there's always tomorrow. After spending time in San Pancho we realized why we didn't see a single client with elevated blood pressure.
In Mexico, clinically, I experienced plenty of tenacious calculus that I was beginning to think was tooth structure because it certainly wasn't going anywhere! And, "if it's not changing, move on." Clients like these provided me with my greatest learning experience. I learned that the file and the ultrasonic are my two best friends. Friends that I was not utilizing to their full potential back home. Spending much more time than I was previously with the ultrasonic on each tooth surface with these difficult clients and lightening my grasp even further has greatly improved my ultrasonic end point. Having completed clients such as these has worked wonders for my confidence as I feel I have the ability and problem solving skills to accomplish whatever lies ahead.
I will miss the gratitude and patience of the people in Mexico and will never lose the life lessons I have taken from this experience. I love 'San Pancho Life' and am excited to return next year to assist the following class however possible. Adios

Robin reporting..........

2010-05-22T20:48:00.000-07:00

Over the last 30 days I have learned an enourmous amount about the person I am and who I want to be. Partaking in the smile project has allowed me to expand on my communication skills, build my confidence, and increase my knowledge about the Mexican culture. This field study to San Pancho has enabled me to utilize my clinical and didactic knowledge which I have gained at Camosun College. This experience has by far exceeded my expectations and I will cherish it forever.

Emma reporting....

2010-05-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

So our journey has come to an end and what a journey it has been. I have experienced and learned a lot in both my personal life and my school/career life. This place has continuously reminded me of many values that you tend to push to the side when you are at home busy with school and work. Some of these values are taking each day as it comes and living in the moment, rather than worrying about the future, as well to do what makes you happy and learn what makes you happy by communicating, listening and trying new things. Finally, the people of San Pancho have reminded me of the importance of friends and family. Everyone here is very close and would do anything for each other, it is a very supportive community. In regards to clinic, I have come to appreciate what we do as dental professionals even more than I did before. It is here that I have learned how different a healthy mouth can make people feel both physically and emotionally. People here greatly appreciate the services that we provide because it is not common practice for the locals to go for their regular dental/dental hygiene visits, in fact it has never happened for a lot of these people. I will take this experience and further understanding with me into practice and hope to improve my ability to communicate this to my future clients. Thank you to all the people of San Pancho who have provided such a rich learning experience for me.

Danielle reporting...

2010-05-21T09:37:00.000-07:00

I have learned what it means to be a part of a small community because I have observed how each member plays a vital role to ensure that the health and well being of all are being met. I admire the contributions and volunteer hours community members spent to aid in the success of 'Proyecto Sonrisa' and I am enthusiastic that the educational programs implemented in the community when we leave will continue to encourage awareness of oral health.

Today we pack....

2010-05-21T06:52:00.000-07:00

Our flight to Calgary leaves @ 5pm today from Puerto Vallarta and we'll be in Victoria by 1pm tomorrow. Yesterday, the students took a well-deserved excursion/adventure tour 1.5 hour south from San Pancho while I spent most of the day tying loose ends and relaxing and spending time with Glades and family.

It's been another incredible journey, filled with lessons and revelations about ourselves and our surroundings, and a greater understanding and awareness of what service really means. We are leaving San Pancho with a little piece of our hearts behind. We've felt a deep connection with this pueblo and the people who live here. We know how much they appreciated our presence and the work that we did but we are the richer for it for having been here and spending time with them.

We look forward to coming home and being with our loved ones once again. See you all soon.
Ada

Below is a picture of the beautiful sunset yesterday....

Meeting with the hospital dentists and Dr. Monica, sub-head director

2010-05-21T05:50:00.000-07:00

This was our last official activity before we all head home. Our unscheduled meeting with Dr. Monica, the sub-director of the hospital and the two resident dentists was very successful. We left feeling very supported and eager to get going on the next step for our project. Dr. Grillo described the situation at the hospital very clearly on his last entry and I am very pleased to know that he has the resources to help them out as soon as he is able. Thank you Greg for your ideas and generous spirit. This is the start of a turning point for San Pancho's hospital dental clinic.

Tanis Reporting

2010-05-20T21:48:00.000-07:00

It is our last night in San Pancho and I am very sad to be leaving. This has been our home for the last 30 days and we have been truly fortunate to be a part of this community. It was very hard to take down our units at our last dental clinic on Tuesday, as this meant we were nearing the end. I have learned so much about the community in the last month and feel that my clinical skills have improved since I first arrived. This externship has enabled me to assess where my clinical skills were at when we arrived and then allow me to focus on areas that needed improvement. The extended clinic hours guided this focus, along with the coaching from Ada, Dr. Grillo, Jane, and my daily partner. I have also improved my caries assessment skills, as many children and adults in San Pancho that we screened and treated had caries. Overall, this has been a wonderful experience and I feel that this has enriched my life personally and as a dental hygienist.

Bethany reporting

2010-05-20T14:56:00.000-07:00

It has been a great experience here in Mexico. The time has flown by giving me plenty of learning opportunities. One thing I have learned is how important it is to immerse yourself in the community so you can help a large group rather than just one person. Just going to the schools here in San Pancho has taught me that our contribution can reach the entire community. The children go home, tell their families what they have learned and they in turn tell their neighbours. It creates an exponential effect and I am glad that I was a part of it.

5 days straight...

2010-05-20T10:31:00.000-07:00

Our dental clinic at EntreAmigos provided a new setting and welcomed a new addition to this year's field school. On Saturday, May 14th, Dr. Grillo and his staff joined forces with us to promote oral health and provide dental services to the people of San Pancho.

The following pictures document 5 days, 51 hours, 30 minutes, 2 seconds of clinic days at EntreAmigos. ;-)

THURSDAY, May 13th was set-up day. EntreAmigos had sinks, bathrooms, a refrigerator, and ample space for us to create 5 dental hygiene units, one overflow, one dental unit, a reception area and one waiting area. Here's what it looked like on the evening of the set-up.

Before the ultrasonic machines were set up.

All the water bottles are being filled for the portable ultrasonic units.

We were done for the night! Now, we are off to dinner before the big day. Thank you ladies for your great organizational skills.

FRIDAY, May 14th 2010
How we managed to not trip on each other is beyond me. There were hoses and electrical cords where the flow of traffic would normally be but we were accident-free for the 5 days that we were there. The vacuum cleaner suction was right in the middle of the units to accommodate 4 chairs, as well as Dr. Grillo's unit.

Here's our vacuum unit. We misplaced the vacuum hose from our last clinic at the hospital and had to quickly fashion one from a tubing and lots of clear tape bought at a nearby hardware store. We have become quite resourceful.

Everyone rotated through different partners, which worked really well. They were also coaching each other and checking each other's work. They were beginning to get comfortable in evaluating each other's skill level, including their tactile sensitivity.

Danielle and Jeanie treated this couple. They were so grateful and full of smiles after several hours in the chair.

SATURDAY, May 15th. Dr. Grillo is joining us today. Below is Danielle massaging Emma's neck in preparation for the long day ahead. ;-)

Dr. Grillo brought a lounging chair from his rented house to be his dental chair for the next 4 days. Here's the dental corner of the building. The portable unit you see in the foreground worked well for his purposes, except for the suction. Jackie, his receptionist/interpreter (in the background) was essential to the team as she was able to convey to Dr. Grillo queries and concerns that his patients have about their oral health needs. In turn, they were also able to converse back.

We were just about to begin our day. Kellie and Sarah are seating in the reception area.

Our waiting room. Not bad, eh?

The quiet before the storm.

Here's another view of the wait area from the inside. This is where we also ate our lunches.

A condensed health history and a consent form was completed at the beginning of each appointment.

Blood pressure measurements were also taken.

Bethany assisting with a light while Tanis and Robin looked on as Dr. Grillo completes a restoration.

Jane, the hygienist was a tremendous help with our students and to myself. She not only assisted, but also offered coaching and scale checks. She also had patients of her own which was much appreciated, as we had a waiting list everyday of people who wanted to come in and that we couldn't accommodate.

Kellie preparing for an injection on Dr. Grillo's patient as he offers guidance. The students were very happy to work with Dr. G. They mentioned that his teaching style was very calming and informative and helped much with their confidence level. Many of them have not done an injection for some time so they were a bit nervous. They also completed injections on their own patients.

Here's Bethany completing one on her patient, as Robin helps with the light. By the end of the clinic session, every student had completed 1-3 injections.

This was the dreaded job at the end of the day...but everyone HAD to do it. Today, it was Jeanie and Danielle who were in charged. Emptying a full day of "patient juice" from the suction container into the sink took only a few minutes but there was a certain look and odor to it that was less than desirable.

Here's another view from the other side of the bathroom. That $%^@-eating grin from Becky behind them can only mean that she's already had her turn. That little bugger!

I took a picture of the ladies at the end of Day two. Here we are in front of EntreAmigos. Earlier, we broke into a "Feliz Compleanos" song for Kellie. It was her birthday this day and we thought that we'd celebrate with a dinner to a special restaurant later that evening. This picture was taken at around 7pm.

Even after a long 11 hour day, we were at the restaurant till closing time at 11pm. The chef came out with a guitar and song, along with our waiter and hostess to sing to Kellie at the end of our dinner. It was a nice way to cap off another successful day.

SUNDAY, May 16th: Dr. Grillo joined us for our daily pre-clinic huddle. After the huddle, we do our morning stretches and partner-massages before our team cheer.

Here's Robin, ready to greet our first patient of the day. Rolling up the scrub pants helped to keep our bodies cool. It was probably over 20 degrees by 9am.

Jeanie completing one of her local anesthesia injections.

Ouch Danielle. Later we added an "aerobic step stool" at the foot of the beach chairs to further recline it for a more improved accessibility to the posterior areas. Sarah was Danielle's partner this day.

A view of our clinic. To the right of this picture are two more dental hygiene units. They each had the portable suction that were recently purchased from donations generated by the students

This is one of our success stories. You saw a picture of him and his family earlier when we treated them at the hospital. Today, he was here for a dental consult with Dr. Grillo. Dr. G was also impressed with his oral findings; no decay, minimal mobility and healthy periodontal tissues. The second picture is of his right hand. I took a picture of it as he was very proud of the progress that he has made with his dexterity skills.

Robin completing an injection on Dr. Grillo's restorative client.

Thank you Robin and Sarah. As they were exiting the building at the end of the day, they found a couple who were selling churros (mexican donuts) at the back of their truck. They returned back to the clinic with churros for everyone. Another perfect way to end our day.

SUNDAY, May 17th: Jane assisting with a light as Candyce applied local anesthetic on her client. Her ambidextrosity(is that a word?) came in handy as she usually works on her right side. With the small quarters that we had to work under, her ability to move from one side to the other comfortably was an asset.

This is Jill, our interpreter for the morning and Javier. He has early childhood caries. He told Jill that he doesn't like to drink water as it doesn't taste very good. He usually has Coke with all his meals. It's no wonder. He patiently waited for hours as his mother was being treated by Tanis.

Dogs and children were a common sight at our clinic. The little girl's name is Oma, Luz' daughter who was one of our interpreters.

Becky says, "I'm going in!" A purposeful stance prior to her injection.

Here I am with Tanis. Rolling more into the concave areas of teeth and activating from the base of the deposit during scaling was what everyone needed to work on but improvement was evident after each day of practice.

We finished at 5pm this day. At 7:30, we met everyone at Dr. G's rented house where a lady prepared dinner of fajitas and vanilla flan for everyone. Lisa, Dr. Grillo's wife took this picture. Don, the gentleman on the far left of the picture owns this house and lives here 8 months of the year. He is also a resident of White Rock, BC. A small world.

Relaxing by the salt-water pool at the end of the day.

It was going to be a 15-20 minute walk back in the dark to our home in the pueblo...so at the end of the evening, Don offered to take us all back in the back of his truck. Of course, we took him up on his offer. 5 minutes later, we were home for a good night's sleep. Tomorrow was going to be our last day at EntreAmigos.

Kellie, Danielle, Robin, and Candyce chose to walk along the beach. It was another warm night and the moon guided them home.

TUESDAY, May 18th. This is day 5 for us and we were feeling fatigue but extremely satisfied of the work that we were doing. There was much work to be done as people were showing up wanting appointments but we have been booked full for days. It was unfortunate and very sad to have to turn people away but they were very understanding. Note the aerobic step stool propping the beach chair back. This incline provided better access for Bethany on the maxillary posterior areas.

Below is Becky treating Paulina, one of our interpreters/school presenters. I deemed today as "casual Tuesday" for one primary reason. My excuse was I didn't have enough time to take my scrubs to the laundrymat so had to resort to my regular clothes. Most students wore their scrubs (they were more organized than I was), but Robin, Jeanie, Becky and I came with wearing t-shirts. Robin and I proudly wore our lucha libre t-shirts.

Lunch Break!!! Today was a choice of marinated tofu or ham tortas with chips, oatmeal cookies, and iced tea. Kellie sharing her meal with one of the dogs that frequents our clinics.

What could possibly be Greg talking about to generate such curious looks from Danielle and Jackie? On the other hand, he may have had too much to eat and D and J are giving him a hard time.

It's almost closing time. There was a bit of surrealism as we started to disassemble and pack away our equipment. We feel like we were just getting in the groove and becoming such a part of the daily activities of the building. Here's Jeanie putting away the ultrasonic kits.

At the end of the day, Glades presented everyone with gifts from EntreAmigos, EscueladelMundo, and local artists in town. We also shared a delicious chocolate cake. It became emotional for many of us.

Delicious chocolate goodness!!!

Fernanda, one of the children who was in the biblioteca at the time, wrote a thank you card to Becky and presented it to her before we left.

Below are more kids who made cards for the rest of the team.

Final packing of supplies. We left all of the self-care aids behind for future endeavours, such as the monthly oral health presentations at EntreAmigos.

Farewell to Sherri, (Greg's amazing assistant), Jackie, Jane, and Greg. This is a picture of all of them as they packed all of their supplies back into suitcases and about to board their rented van.

Tomorrow, Greg, Jackie and I meet at the hospital to try to catch the hospital director for an unscheduled meeting. We also wanted to view the dental clinic one more time and have an opportunity to talk to the two female dentists there.

What Great Teamwork!

2010-05-20T08:20:00.000-07:00

To Ada and all the students of the Mexico Field School,

It's impossible to put into words the effect this time with you and the patients of San Pancho had on each of us. We were humbled to be part of your project and just add a little to what you were already doing. We loved working with each of you, and can see you are becoming professionals that will contribute to the health of people wherever you are. Your eagerness to learn inspired me in a way that I won't forget soon, and I hope the chance to work with Ada and other students in the future remains on the table.

The gratitude of the people touched us as well, and we're reminded of the privileges we take for granted all too often. Many had teeth the dentist at the hospital couldn't fill simply because they have no supplies. The local hospital has been out of basic filling material for over 4 months, and the resources to help the people simply don't exist. Fortunately we helped a few, but there are so many more...

Ada, Jackie, and I had a remarkable meeting at the hospital with the sub-director yesterday, and I left with an endorsed letter allowing me to volunteer there anytime and to bring donations into Mexico for that purpose. I'm excited about the possibilities, which can only help the people here. It's an opportunity I wouldn't have had without the collaboration with Ada and all of you. Ada has developed an amazing project that is starting to influence the long-term wellness of people who would never know such benefits. I hope I can continue to support and collaborate with her in the future.

So many more thoughts to process, but thank you to each of you. If you ever need thoughts, perspective, or a little guidance on 'LA' (local anesthetic for the non-dental folks), please drop me a line. I wish all of you the very best: You've chosen a meaningful career full of possibilities.

Greg, Jane, Sherri, and Jackie
drgreg55@gmail.com
http://www.grillodds.com/

Jeanie reporting one last time from mexico.....

2010-05-19T08:34:00.000-07:00

I am grateful to have had this opportunity and I have learned so much more than I had expected. This experience enables me to definitively identify areas that I need to work on. I have learned so much more from Ada, the patients, and my peers here in San Pancho. We are truly blessed with being able to work well as a team, have an instructor that understands our individual needs, and the time with our patients who are absolutely stoic. This experience has been so valuable, profound, and realistic before our venturing into our profession. We are exhausted after our clinics, but are devoted to our patients and their best interests. I am humbled by this experience, and it has enriched the meaning of committing to being a lifelong learner in this profession.

Candyce reporting....

2010-05-18T09:34:00.000-07:00

Our last weekend in clinic has been extremely rewarding with the assistance from Dr. Grillo and his wonderful staff, we have been able to assist each other and the community to better the oral hygiene of a lot of people in San Pancho. It is very sad to say the our experience here is almost over, but it will forever have a great impact on our lives.

EntreAmigos oral health sessions....

2010-05-18T05:11:00.000-07:00

Last May 11th, two presentations on oral health by the second group of students were completed at EntreAmigos. An announcement flyer was posted around town two weeks prior to generate interest. We had hoped for a better turn out, but only about 6 people came for each session. Nevertheless, the students spoke as if there were 100 people in the room. I appreciated their commitment to this activity and everyone in the room felt it. Below are some pictures of that evening.

Eric and his baby, Sophie stopped by.

Becky Reporting . . .

2010-05-17T15:34:00.000-07:00

I have learned the importance of remaining adaptable in any situation. Whether its partner changes, client cancellations and changes, instruments, settings and set-up. This has helped me remain composed, professional and focused during our clinics and the treatment of my clients.

Welcome Dr. Grillo and company...

2010-05-16T18:03:00.000-07:00

We started our last clinic sessions at EntreAmigos last Friday. EntreAmigos is a nonprofit community development organization which was established by Nicole Swedlow in 2006. Their mission is to provide learning opportunities for children and families in the area through implementation of education programs based on principles of integration and collective community action. www.entreamigos.org.mx

They were very generous in giving us the room and the necessary provisions to set up a temporary dental clinic in the building. Last Thursday evening, we set up our makeshift clinic to accommodate 5 primary dental hygiene unit, one area for overflow, and an area for Dr. Grillo to set up a dental chair.

As we have done two weekend clinic sessions already, we were becoming very adept in our set up strategies. It was very nice to be able to leave our supplies and equipment in place in a more secure setting than our set up at the hospital.

Last Friday, we were excited to finally meet our counterparts from Omak, Washington. It really did feel like we were old friends after so many conversations via email about this collaborative project. They made it through customs successfully albeit barely, as they needed more definitive documentation relating to the equipment and supplies that they are bringing in. Tired and exhausted from their long travel, we said our goodbyes for that evening after a quick meeting.

As of today, we have completed 33 more hours of dental hygiene clinic...and most of the students have been able to give local anaesthetic, with Dr. Grillo's guidance and observation. What a great addition he and his team have been to our group project. Dr. G and Jane, RDH have been great teachers to our students. They are so helpful and knowledgeable.

Two more clinic days before we part ways. As exhausted as we are, we are already feeling a bit sad that it is all coming to a close. It's been tremendous.

On the next entry I will upload images of our new dental clinic set up, as well as pictures of the second session of Oral Health presentation at EntreAmigos. Hasta luego.

Over 350 Mexican children later, ages 3-17...

2010-05-16T17:14:00.000-07:00

In the last three weeks, we screened and applied fluoride varnish on the teeth of over 350 children/young adults in the 4 schools in San Pancho/Francisco community. It was an undertaking to organize the supplies and materials for each scheduled day, but we learned quickly how to overcome the challenges with each experience. Am attaching many of the photos of our school visits. Mexican children, like most children are full of curiosity and have an insatiable appetite for learning. They listened attentively to the presentations and answered correctly to the questions posed. The older children remembered our presentations from previous years and we were all pleased that they acknowledged the relationship between plaque, nutrition, and caries, albeit we seem to be fighting an uphill battle as sugar-laden snack vendors line the perimeter of the schools during recess.

There is talk about bringing "healthy living" within the school curriculum by next year. We are excited about that and asked how can we contribute to the project.

Sarah Reporting...

2010-05-15T18:40:00.000-07:00

From these last three weeks, spending time in San Pancho, I have learned that I need to be more patient. I know that this has been said before, but patience is so much more evident in the people that we have met and the towns that we have visited. Being more patient has not only helped me be more successful in my clinical skills (ie: Using the ultrasonic), but also in my everyday life in San Pancho (ie: Waiting for 9 other girls to get ready to go for dinner). We have 6 more days left here, and 3 more days of clinic. I will use these days to practice this skill as well as improve upon my other clinical skills, learn as much as I can, and soak up my last bits of Mexico. Hopefully I can remember this experience and keep this patient attitude with me when I return to Victoria.

Care of self....

2010-05-13T22:48:00.000-07:00

"All work and no play makes Jill a dull girl " (am paraphrasing an old movie line)...Dull would not be the word to describe what has transpired here for the last three weeks. I was very clear in my intention that the field school participants receive as full of a Mexican experience as much as possible while they are here, not only while fulfilling their academic and clinical needs in a foreign country, but also in immersing themselves in the culture and satisfying their curiosity about their environment. Below are some pictures that I took during our down time. I had much help in coming up with ideas and implementing these ideas by our host coordinator, Glades. We kept ourselves busy and we had great fun!

A short drive away north of San Pancho is a place called Las Lomas. At the end of a dusty, bumpy road is a family-owned resort called Playa Monterrey. It was a time to unwind and to enjoy the beauty of our surroundings. As it is low season, our host, Jaime Acosta took us to view the empty bungalows. We were able to snoop and imagine. You can as well...here is their website. www.monterreybeach.com

A view from one of the bungalows. We'll remember this for some time.

Inside one of the bungalows. A beautiful place for reflection and contemplation.

Traditional grilled fish, green salad, rice with corn, jicama, and hibiscus juice was the lunch that was prepared for us. We were happy campers!!!

Can you feel the heat? We are just getting out of our van driven by our friend, Pedro of Diva Tours and about to be given a special tour of an orchid farm. They are not yet open to the public but a call from Glades to the manager of the farm, is all it took to get us there. We didn't know what to expect.

The view of the Pacific Ocean was breathtaking from this vantage point. This was the start of our walkabout. We were greeted in the front gate by Gallo who is an old friend. He was quite versed about his orchids and very accommodating to all of us.

No explanation required...just imagine.

This is for Missy. What else would you need?...how about a cup of good coffee and a good book?! Life should be this good. ;-) This is where the manager/owner lives. (it is on the top of the hill overlooking the farm).

Along the trail, we saw how the orchids have attached themselves to anything and everything to survive. We also learned about the indigenous plants and trees. Much to the delight of Tanis and some of the ladies, there were no snakes nor other forms of "scary" wildlife.

T'is not the season for orchids, but you are looking at a caterpillar-before-the-butterfly image here. I would love to return here when everything is in bloom.

Do you ever wonder where your coconut oil comes from? You are looking at it.

A small wooden bridge over a stream. Photo op!!!

These are the different varieties of orchids that we saw.

One last photo before boarding the van.

This morning, we woke up early to start our hike inland. Luis, our guide, provided a light breakfast at the students' bungalows and an orientation of what the hike will entail. With sunscreen and bugspray on, we set out to walk the trail with little expectation of what is ahead of us. Tanis (afraid of snakes), Candyce and Robin (slept in), and Bethany (studying) decided to stay behind. ;-)

Luis pointing out the White Fig Tree (does not bear fruit) but provides shade and shelter for many of the wildlife.

We met one of the rancheros on the way in, accompanied by his two dogs. As we walked further inland and away from traffic, the sound of the silva(falsely named as the jungle) became more evident. Simply, we were walking into nature.

A worthy stop along the trail. I wanted to remember this moment and deeply feel the gratitude of the circumstance that has brought me to this place. It was a little before 8am at about this time, there was mist beyond the hills and the sounds of birds, cows, horses, crickets, and other animals abound. The picture doesn't do it justice. You had to be there.

Welcome to the jungle!

We were forewarned by Luis that it would not be prudent to pet the animals along the way as we would be exposing ourselves to ticks. A very good advice! This horse was very gentle and clearly aware of our taking photos of him. He stood very still for our cameras!

Here we are in front of the elephant ear tree. The edible fruit look like elephant ears.

We are nearing the end of the trail.

It is a month away from rainy season which explains the dry rocks. There were pools of water in the area that were knee high but the fish and myriad of insects floating and crawling about may have deterred most of us from taking a dip. Emma and I decided to do it anyway and found it very refreshing...especially helpful before the long walk back.

There is still so much to see and experience...I have a feeling that some of us will be back again at another time to discover more of what this region has to offer.

So, for our family and friends back home, rest assured that there was great effort in balancing work and play in the last three weeks. Your daughters, wives, girlfriends, aunties, daughters-in-law are in good form. I have strongly encouraged direct and honest communication in all of our decision-making and they've been responding in kind. Their positive and respectful attitude, their openness to learning, their willingness to try new things, and their obvious care for one another are evident in the images above and it is worthy of mention. Thank you for your support as I am sure that you miss them greatly. We'll be home soon...safe and content in your company once again.

Becky Reporting ;)

2010-05-13T15:13:00.000-07:00

Completing two weekend clinics at the hospital has made me reflect on just how unique these experiences have been. The surroundings and conditions in these clinics are 'a world apart' from what we are used to back in school clinics. It is easy to get frustrated and caught up in these differences. It is important for us all to surrender to the elements: the heat and sun, sweat, bugs, falling mangoes, back and muscle aches to maintain our positive attitudes and performance. I think we have all done well at this and are so grateful for the opportunity to come here and help out the people of San Pancho and neighbouring towns.

Robin reporting.........

2010-05-13T14:16:00.000-07:00

Well, as we go into our final week here in San Pancho I feel my clinical skills are improving. With a total of 44 hours in clinic my speed and abilities to provide dental hygiene services are advancing. Each day I feel more empowered to share my knowledge to this community and I will embrace the next 7 days.

More dental hygiene under the mango trees....

2010-05-12T22:38:00.000-07:00

A little yoga before we begin our day!

Candyce is slightly outside of the safety of the umbrella. It's a bit risky as the mangoes fall with consistent fervor. It brings excitement to our day.

With great concentration, Sarah and Emma are helping me organize patient forms and student numbers. Everyone is always so willing and eager to help out to ensure that things go smoothly. And when things don't, we somehow problem-solve our way out of it to get back on track. Nice work, team!

A long view of our dental hygiene clinic. The lady (left background) is waiting to get an appointment knowing that we are booked for the day. She is there in case someone doesn't show up. The virtue of patience is very much part of the culture of the Mexican people.

Kellie and I looking on as Jeanie completes Quadrant 3 with stellar results. I have encouraged the students to coach each other, to help identify for themselves what they see in their partner's skills that can be improved on. In our next set of clinic days, we will be checking each other's work more consistently so that they can hone their tactile sensitivity.

A picture worthy of a story. This is 24 yr. old Maria who walked in shyly wanting to see us before we were even set up for the day. Her friend who we had seen the day before told her to come. Due to a no-show, we were able to begin treatment. She turned out to be a class 4 classification, evidenced by generalized moderate to severe deposits, a glorious wall to wall calculus on the linguals of her sextant 5 and only 3-5 mm pocket levels throughout. The most amazing thing is that she stayed with us from 9:30 am to almost 6pm, without a single bathroom or meal break. She wanted so badly for us to keep going and we were more than happy to oblige. Jeanie and Kellie completed her in 7.5 hours...a leap in progress, considering that class 4 patients were being completed on an average of 6 or more appointments (18 plus hours) in Victoria. My experience has been that given a challenge like this (coupled with good fundamental skills), most students rise to the occasion. Good work Kellie and Jeanie!

Although a perfect 90 degree angle operator positioning by Becky, it does not meet the standards of proper ergonomics. HA! We won't count Tanis' posture, she's trying her best to look at what's going on intraorally. You can't beat the surroundings though. Thank you Honvon! Your suction contraption still works like a charm.

Emma's ipod and speaker system on a tree trunk. Nice Bob Marley and Stevie Ray Vaughn tunes, Emma. Unfortunately, the vacuum evacuation system drowned out the sound most of the day. Next year, bigger speakers!!!

Our dispensary area/folding table against the hospital wall. The instruments are organized according to design. The system works. The biggest glitch that we encountered is not having ultrasonic handles for 2 of the ultrasonic machines that we brought with us. The team did a remarkable job in rotating the three that we had to ensure that those who needed it used it. Thank you Camosun dental hygiene crew, the overnight package of ultrasonic handles to Mexico came 7 days later, but we are happy that we'll have it for the last 5 days of clinic here.

Each day that we were there, a team of 2 students rotated through the inside dental chair (see above). This one is 30 years old. The suction and compressor unit no longer works, the headrest is not easily manipulated, but the chair can be reclined so hallelujah! ...but the biggest bonus is that we've learned how to turn on the air conditioner on our 2nd day there. Funny enough, it was not a big enough draw with the students. as the other option was working with your teammates underneath the mango trees.

The Physical Services department at Camosun and the Worker's Compensation Board in Victoria would have a lot to say about this electrical thing-a-majig underneath the dental chair. But we are not in Victoria, are we?

This is a picture of a 30 year old x-ray processor and the unlabeled x-ray films above it. After speaking to the resident weekend dentist, he seconded the notion that any help that we can offer the hospital dental clinic in terms of newer equipment and supplies would be appreciated. We'll have to work on that.

The x-ray machine. It still works.

Next posting will be about our school visits in the Primaria and Secondaria levels. Tomorrow, we are taking a day off before we head into our 5 day clinic at Entreamigos. I heard from Dr. Grillo tonight and they are packed and ready to go. They'll be arriving Friday evening and seeing patients first thing Saturday morning.

Good night, Victoria.

Bethany reporting

2010-05-12T14:40:00.000-07:00

This past weekend in clinic, I have come to realize how much culture and socioeconomic status has in oral health. I have seen a few clients where I was their first dental hygienist. It is amazing and eye-opening to see just how much they appreciate us giving free dental hygiene services. Once they receive the care they needed, they have so much ambition and motivation to maintain their oral health. The service we are providing in San Pancho is priceless!

44 hours of clinic later...

2010-05-12T05:12:00.000-07:00

This means that we've completed the equivalent of about three weeks of clinic, including CA and RE duties. By the second weekend, the students have shown that they've adapted and adjusted to the new clinic environment, evidenced by their improved results. I was most pleased with that. The longer hours and more difficult client classifications provided me ample opportunities to observe the students. This helped me immensely in identifying clearly where there needs are. For the first year students who are reading this, do not underestimate the value of having strong fundamental skills of debridement. All of the students realize that without it, it becomes an onerous task to work in this environment and progress will be slow. Their affective, cognitive, and organizational skills are highly utilized here and everyone is performing beyond expectations.

Dr. Greg Grillo and his staff will be joining us on Saturday and we are excited to meet and work with all of them. The students will be able to apply their local anesthetic skills while he is with us which will come in handy with some of our patients.

Getting ready to go to the Secondaria school in about 45 minutes so will upload pics later. Bye for now.

Jeanie reporting

2010-05-11T17:45:00.000-07:00

Today we visited the Montessori primary and elementary school that was started by a group of parents of San Pancho. My past experience as a Montessori teacher made me reflect on how amazing the program is for children and how involved these parents are. Even in San Pancho, they have made changes in their children´s education possible by being open and creating an alternative to traditional ways. Today, I spoke with a parent and he says that by us just being here makes a huge difference for this town, and I believe it is soley because the people of San Pancho are so open and adaptable to receiving change. I am continually amazed by the people here and learning more about their past, present, and bright future.

Emma Posting......

2010-05-11T17:37:00.000-07:00

Last week I said I was going to work on worrying less and that goal is still in place and going pretty good. It is refreshing to be providing care here because of the gratitude and appreciation we recieve from the people. They are so interested in learning about their oral health and willing to work to improve it. They really are amazing people that are so patient and happy. They wait hours to see us and sign up on waiting lists and when they do see us they sit patiently for up to 6 hours sometimes, enduring quite a lot of pain because we have not local anaeshetic and leave happy. I also want to point out their love for their families and their generosity. They do an extravagent mothers day celebration that begins with singing in the streets and ends with a festival in the evening, to show their moms how much they love and appreciate them, I think we could all learn a little something from the people of San Pancho :)

Sorry all...

2010-05-11T13:45:00.000-07:00

There may be someone messing with our blog as some of the words are not what was originally written. We may have a hacker in our midst.

I have now fixed it but stay tuned...

To those whom much is given, much is required.

2010-05-11T05:02:00.000-07:00

Our being here reminds us how much we have back home, how things comes easily, and how much we expect "things" to happen swiftly just by living in Canada. We are humbled by our surroundings and are doing our best to extend ourselves to our fullest capacity to give back. The students have been wonderful representatives of Camosun College and Canada. You should all be very proud of them.

Another class session by the pool. We were focused inspite of our surroundings. Really.

This night, an Oral Health Presentation was scheduled at the local community center. We hope that by the time we leave, we can establish an ongoing monthly program that focuses on teaching / learning about Oral Health. The next class session will be tonight and will be presented by the other half of the student body here.

A familiar scene while we where waiting on the street in front of the EntreAmigos community center.

Our 82 year old patient at the hospital dental clinic, Dona Vega. She came back to the OH presentation to hear more about what she can do to keep her teeth. She reminded me of my own grandmother.

We sat around a circle while the students spoke. The people who attended seemed interested and asked many questions before we were done. Lots of learning on both sides that day.

Bethany explainning all about caries prevention. Each student presented a topic of their choice. Each attendee received a packet of information containing a how-to pamphlet on brushing and flossing, early childhood caries info, brush, and floss. Overall, it was a success.

More pics to come later of our school visits. The images take a long time to upload so I'll do it when I have more time. It's 7:00 a.m. here and I need to get ready for our school visit at Escuela del Mundo where there are approximately 55 Children, ranging from 3 to 12. Hasta luego everyone.

Tanis Reporting

2010-05-10T18:51:00.000-07:00

The small town atmosphere in San Pancho is very refreshing. I forgot what it was like to spend time in such a small community, I am really enjoying it. If there is an event the entire community participates in it and ensures that it is a success. Different events have included the "Cardboard Circus" (promoting recycling), wrestling night, Mother's Day, and our dental hygiene clinics.

Days are busy, much to report...

2010-05-08T22:24:00.000-07:00

We are all well. We are occupying our days with work, leisure, and studies. It seems easier to focus here as the distractions are easier to manage than those back home. We have no TV nor cell phones. Our days are unlike the daily grind that we left behind. Although our daily schedule is planned, we always have a plan B, and if that does not work, we are always prepared for plan C. We miss our families and friends but we also know that this experience may not come our way again. We are embracing all the moments and are grateful to be here.

When I find time, I will upload more photos of our week, but here's a list of some of the things that we have done since our last entries:

1. Two-day school visits to the Primaria school.
2. Oral health presentation at the community center, Entreamigos
3. Dental clinic at the hospital
4. Visit to Las Lomas (nearby village) to promote oral health.

Ciao, till next time, Canada.

Kellie reporting...

2010-05-07T12:21:00.000-07:00

We have spent the last two days screening and applying fluoride for the children in the schools of San Pancho. It has been amazing to watch them listen intently to the education piece as well as demonstrate proper toothbrushing technique as a class. The amount of candy these kids consume breaks our hearts as it is evident in their mouths as more decay than we are used to seeing. I'm glad we are here providing education and fluoride as the decay rate compared to previous years has decreased, suggesting that our program is making a difference!

Danielle reporting...

2010-05-06T15:16:00.000-07:00

As the days pass, it has become even more evident that our presence in the community of San Pancho is both needed and very much appreciated. I am enthusiastic that the education, screening and application of fluoride that we provided today in the primary school will benefit these children as they gain a greater understanding of the importance of their oral health. In addition, I am grateful that our presence will encourage referral to receive the necessary care that they desperately require.

Sarah Reporting...

2010-05-06T14:48:00.000-07:00

In visiting the schools it's really heartbreaking to see how much decay is present in some of these children. It has really made me realize how different our two cultures are in this respect, and reinforces how culture can affect oral health.

Candyce Reporting...

2010-05-06T13:44:00.000-07:00

Being ready for the unexpected and have the ability to adapt to many situations is extremely vital for dentistas in San Pancho. These traits have been proven worthy for us against the falling mangos in our open air clinics and our multiple endeavors to the ocean.

Luche Libre FEVER!!!

2010-05-06T13:26:00.000-07:00

Good times, good times.

Lucha Libre came to town last weekend. Lucky for us! Lucha Libre was first established in Mexico in the early 1900's as a freestyle wrestling show. The wrestlers would often always wear masks and are called Luchadors. They would travel from town to town and provide entertainment for the people. This time in San Pancho, it was no different. It cost about $4.00 to get in, a little less for the children. The people sat around an outdoor rink and cheered on their favorite wrestlers. At halftime, It didn't take much convincing for Candyce and Robin to get up on the ring to represent Canada. With masks on and a whole lotta courage, they were introduced by the referee as the Mysteriosa (the Mysterious One-Candyce) and the La Chica en el bestido (the woman with a dress-Robin). What can I say? The crowd loved them. Robin knocked Candyce off her feet and won the match! But true to Canadianism, they both hugged afterwards and declared each other the winner! HA!

To the families and friends at home reading this, no one got hurt! (albeit I should have still asked them to sign liability waivers before they got on the rink!- sorry Thevi!) It was an experience of a lifetime for Candyce and Robin and we were glad to have witnessed it. We felt privileged, grateful, and thrilled to be amongst the crowd. Many of us are bringing our own mask home.

Wanna-be Luchadoras!!!

Jeanie reporting

2010-05-05T21:18:00.000-07:00

I have witnessed grace and patience from patients who come to our clinics. They feel pain but act composed and are so appreciative of the work that we provide for them. Some patients from the hospital clinics also came to our oral health presentation at Entreamigos where we could further educate them. At this presentation I also witnessed their interest in learning about their individual oral status. For example, many patients asked us why their teeth felt sensitive and were eager to learn about the process of sensitivity and decay. I am so happy to be here so that we can supply education, dental services, and selfcare aids that otherwise these patients could not afford.

Bethany reporting

2010-05-05T17:08:00.000-07:00

I am astounded by the generosity of the people here in San Pancho and the surrounding area. Everyone is willing to help us in any way that they can. It is so great to be a part of this community and to be able to give back to them by offering dental hygiene services. They are so grateful to be able to learn about oral health and teach their own families.

Robin reporting.......

2010-05-04T15:58:00.000-07:00

I am at loss for words because I am in awe of my surroundings. Everything is so beautiful here, and I feel very fortunate to be a part of this endeavour.

Tanis Reporting

2010-05-04T15:09:00.000-07:00

We just finished our first dental hygiene clinic weekend and I have noticed that our clients are so appreciative of the care that we are providing. They will travel, sit for hours and endure pain without any hesitation and are still so grateful. I am looking forward to working again at our clinic this weekend.

Becky Reporting

2010-05-04T15:00:00.000-07:00

I am amazed at the patience of people here, especially the children that will wait for 3 or 4 hrs while their parents are being treated, occupying themselves and not complaining. Patience is common in this society but not so back home - I can definitely learn from this!

Emma reporting....

2010-05-04T14:22:00.000-07:00

So it has been about ten days since we first got here and we had our first hospital clinics this weekend. My goal for this trip is to embrace the perspectives and lifestyles of the people of San Pancho, by worrying a little less and relaxing or taking things on as they come a little more!

Dos dias largos en el hospital...

2010-05-03T20:22:00.000-07:00

We did it! Two eleven-hour days in the hospital but the days remarkably went by quickly. The posters, our presence in the community, word-of-mouth brought patients to the hospital. There was a steady stream of people who would show up to fill the spaces left by those who did not show up for their appointments. Glades, our host administrator, was the contact person for scheduling. This system has worked well in the past, primarily to ensure access and control waiting times.

We saw new and returning patients and was very pleased that several of the patients in the past showed remarkable improvement. One of which was Nico L. who Sam and Crystal treated last year. He was a class 4 periodontal client, with class 3 mobility, and bluish red gingival tissues. This time he presented with pink and resilient tissues, shallower pocket depths, less mobility, and most importantly a great understanding of his oral health. Unfortunately, he lost two of his fingers on his right hand recently from a terrible accident. The lack of mobility of the remaining fingers is affecting his dexterity and he is having to re-learn how to brush his teeth, eat, and do things with his left hand. (see pic with him and his family below). His children, Melina and Angel did not have visible decay. It feels good that the field school's objectives may be partly responsible for this family's positive results.

Although a satisfying day overall, the students quickly realized where their instrumentation skill levels are at. The reality of how critical their fundamental skills are to how successful their results will be, hit them immediately. Their assessment skills are right on track ( the SIM form is working out nicely). Interesting point that the students made regarding the lack of palpable nodes in almost all of their clients, compared to their clients in Canada. We tossed around a few theories; e.g. lowered level of stress, minimal allergy issues, higher immune support, etc. Any others? With the 5-1 ratio, I was able to assess and assist them in the areas that they needed to focus on easily.

Ergonomics was an issue (it always is) but we knew that before coming here. We were mindful of switching operators regularly. Some every 30 minutes, some every hour depending on the difficulty of the client. We had 1 dental chair that we could occupy but the rest were fashioned out of beach and deck chairs. This is the first year that we had set up out of doors, underneath mango trees. The umbrellas were set up to protect us from falling mangoes. Tanis got hit on the shoulders on our second day!

Today is our day off so we rest in time for our Primaria school visits and two more long days in the hospital dental clinic in a few days.

The day before the hospital clinic...

2010-05-01T17:32:00.000-07:00

Friday, April 30 was the day to clean and figure out the logistics of the clinic. Everyone pitched in. Everyone had a job and all worked well together. Go team!!! Yes, that's Jeanie wearing a jacket and tights. It's safe to say, she's acclimatized. This is a first for the field school to have a working clinic outdoors. Worked very well today. More pictures to come later.