Dentists Make House Calls

If you can't go to the dentist, let the dentists come to you.For the third year in a row, this team of dentists and dental students have come from a school in Arizona all the way to Arctic Village to serve this remote community.

Arriving Wednesday afternoon on a private charter plane- about 14 dentists, hygienists, technicians, x-ray techs, sterilizers, and an administrative assistant set up in the school. The gym was used as the general examining area. Our P.E. equipment closet was turned into the x-ray room. The kitchen and laundry room were turned into sterilization points. At night it felt more like a hotel then a school. It was our busiest week of visitors yet- 14 dentists, 3 state representatives, and 2 traveling maintenance men.

I opted not to be seen, since I have an appointment after school gets out with a dentist in Fairbanks. But I was told these dentists can do almost anything a regular clinic could do, right here on the gym floor. Cleanings, filling cavities, even pulling teeth and root canals. With no running water to assist brushing twice a day, a high concentration of tobacco users, and an abundance of soda pop drinkers- these dentists had their work cut out for them.
At night some of the students enjoyed socializing and playing games with the young dental students.
Disassembling almost as quickly as they set up- one of the state representatives compared them to an episode of M.A.S.H.