Caring Hearts Dentistry Society
CHDS HEALTHY TEETH...... HAPPY SMILES!
by: Ghee Salcedo
The Caring Hearts Dentistry Society (CHDS) have just concluded another successful dental mission to the Philippines on February 9 to 18, 2015 in cooperation with Rotary World Help and Rotary Club of Richmond Sunrise. After performing about 3,200 procedures for eight (8) days, the people of Panglao, Bohol have received approximately C$ 50,000 or 1.7 million pesos worth of dental services through this project.
Moreover, 500 children benefited from the Society's feeding program held in a fishing village of Panglao, Bohol. Packed meals were distributed and served. Sample menu was hotdog sandwiches, rice, fried chicken, orange juice and ice cream.
CHDS performed preventive and operative dentistry, exodontias (tooth extractions) and pediatric dentistry services.
Preventive programs, including administering fluoride, are provided to most of the local elementary and high school students, where each one was given a toothbrush and floss. Proper brushing techniques and oral hygiene instructions were likewise demonstrated by dentists and hygienists.
Dental caries (decay) and periodontal (gum) disease are the two most widespread diseases worldwide. Dental infections are often painful and occasionally may be life-threatening. While many projects focus only on the provision of extraction services to combat these diseases, Caring Hearts Dentistry Society provides restorative and preventive dental services as well. Several portable periodontal scalers and portable dental delivery units along with suction machines and more supplies were purchased by CHDS purposely to serve more people during dental missions. The just concluded 2015 Dental mission to the Philippines incorporates a variety of portable dental units, compressors, generators, dental chairs, and other equipment to make the services a reality, The big stage of Panglao Cultural Center have been converted into a fully functioning dental clinic.
Additionally, beside paying a visit to CHDS dental mission, the Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines, his Excellency Neil Reeder together with his wife Madame Irene, attended and facilitated the turnover of donated goods, Tim Horton shirts, tons of clothing from Edgewater Casino, adult and kid's multi-vitamins, big bottles of antiseptic liquid soaps, adult diapers, anti-bacterial wipes, sewing machines, desktop computer sets, books, dictionaries, school supplies, hundreds of CAP'S bicycles, incubators, various hospital equipment and supplies by Rotary World Help to the people of Panglao. Two fire trucks have also been received by the Municipality of Panglao donated by Firefighters Without Borders Canada, Rotary Club of Langley and Rotary World help Canada.
Each day's activities are truly a group effort between the Caring Hearts Dentistry Society members, the 53rd Engineer Brigade of Philippine Army, 1305th GHQ Dental Dispensary, Philippine Air Force, AFP Dental Service, local counterparts of Tagbilaran Provincial Dental Unit and volunteers from the said island. All groups are essential to the success of the dental outreach program.
Caring Hearts Dentistry Society is a non-profit society and is self-funded with a mission to strive for, attain and deliver the highest level of free dental care to the needy and less fortunate that has little or no access to dental healthcare. CHDS members of the 2015 Dental Mission to the Philippines are Elena Agala, CHDS Chairperson, Dr. Danilo Salcedo (President), Dr. Gloria Samosa (Vice-Pres.), Dr. Francisca Valdes, Dr. Marietta Quiambao, Francisco Valdes (Treasurer), Nerissa Salcedo (Secretary), Pacifico Alegro, Lorna Simms, Steve Gable, Bonnie Gable, Dr. Mary Jane Fuster & Carlotta Perez (from USA), Howard & Leni Humffray (from Australia), Andrew Milne, Jovencio Salonoy, Nancy Bantug and Minerva Tolentino.