Four University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) faculty members and one alumna have just returned from a mission trip to Belize where they volunteered their time and talents providing dental services to people with limited access to dental care.
UMA Lecturer of Dental Health Una Purvis coordinated the dental outreach in collaboration with Belize dentist Dr. Silvia Rios and Crosspoint Church in Bangor. The dental outreach was part of a 26-person group that also included a medical team as well as others to teach classes and assist with building projects.
Along with Purvis, UMA Lecturer of Dental Health Dr. Amy Alexcovich, Adjunct Faculty Cheryl Skilling and Aspen Cote, and dental program alumna Liz Cushing provided dental care to about 150 children and adults in three Belize towns – Progresso, Crooked Tree, and Santa Marta. “Some of these places are very remote and difficult to access,” said Purvis. “Crooked Tree had recently experienced weeks of flooding. The roads reopened the day before we arrived.”
The dental team provided teeth cleanings, fillings, fluoride varnish, sealants, and silver diamine fluoride (SDF) which remineralizes the tooth and can temporarily pause the progression of tooth decay.
“Having the opportunity to do a mission trip is life changing,” said Alexcovich. “The people are so appreciative and grateful. Working with them reminded me why I got into dentistry in the first place, and revitalized my passion for my work.”
UMA’s Dental Club helped support the trip by contributing supplies. Students did not go on the trip as Belize requires visiting medical and dental service providers to be fully educated, licensed, and otherwise credentialed.
“As dental educators, we teach our students the importance of community service, and this trip allowed us to lead by example and put that lesson into action,” said Purvis. “It was a humbling experience to provide care to patients who otherwise have little or no access to dental care.”
