Dr Daniel Schiavone, a dentist from Rochester, NY goes to Yantalo for a second visit!  Here is his story:

The RN technicians Veronica and Nancy in Yantalo, kept the record of patients we saw and what treatment was recommended and what treatment was delivered.  We were very busy and with the assistance of Nancy, Kaci [my daughter] and Veronica, I was able to accomplish much more than last year.  In 5 working days, we saw 270 students at the school that included and exam, fluoride varnish application and a toothbrush dispensed.  There were only a couple of students that just received an exam and toothbrush because we ran out of fluoride.  We extracted about 140 teeth.

Unfortunately, there was one extraction case on a girl approximately 21 years of age where I could only remove one tooth and half of another.  She required surgical removal of the remaining portion with an air powered drill, suction, better lighting and x-rays.  I referred her to Moyobamba for extraction of the remaining tooth.

I left all of the remaining dental supplies with Wuillman, the local coordinator for the Foundation. I gave a soccer ball to the school and I left numerous small toys with children that my office usually dispenses.

I think the most important goal for Yantalo’s dental health should be prevention through education and a fluoride program.  I was truly saddened by the amount of dental caries present in children under age 14.  It exceeds that of the United States by my observation five-fold.  I discussed the harm caused by Inca-Cola and Coca-Cola with some of the community members and they were surprised to hear theses beverages could be causing dental problems.  I left an excellent series of Spanish dental health education short videos with Percy, the bilingual teacher at the school.  I am willing to talk more about how a dental health education program can be implemented in Yantalo.  Living with pain and infection until teeth must be extracted should not be acceptable.

Kaci and I were invited to attend some type of pinning ceremony for new leaders of the student classes.  We even filled in for two students who didn’t have parents present.  The students then sang me Happy Birthday and I was presented with a gift and a birthday cake from the school.  Our trip into the jungle was enlightening. We saw monkeys, birds and even caught fish with our guides using a stick, some hook and line and some berries.  The owner of Puerto Mirador even gave me a bottle of Pisco   I cannot thank everyone in Yantalo and Moyobamba enough for making our trip memorable and enjoyable.  Please pass that along and know that my heart is with the people of Yantalo.  I will do my best to continue support efforts there in the future.

I want to thank you so much for your part in the arrangement of my birthday dinner and the time Kaci and I spent with Dr Carlos Samame and his daughter Monica in Lima.  It made our trip even more special.

On a last note:

My dental supply company in Rochester NY, has donated two pieces of slightly used small equipment.  One is a curing light that hardens sealants and white fillings and the other is a triturator which mixes capsules filled with things like silver amalgam fillings, cements and white fillings for kids.  Let me know how you would like proceed with that.

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