Dental Support for Communities
It seems quite simple but brushing your teeth is an essential health care activity.
If getting to see a Doctor is extremely difficult, getting to see a Dentist in Cambodia is almost impossible.
The Pet Yei Chi clinic is blessed to have groups of Dentists visit from Canada, Singapore and other countries.
There is now a purpose built dental room at the Pet Yei Chi clinic and one of the Nurses (Poly) even has gone to Spain for further instruction in Dental care.
Dental care has been evidentially poor in our clinics.
Often the Khmer will drink fresh sugar can juice, which they buy at road side stalls.
It sounds clean and healthy but is basically sugar. When there is no toothbrush or regular dental health this leads to nasty cavities.
This is not only uncomfortable but can be a life threatening condition as infections in the mouth can lead to significant infections that affect the brain as well.
One of the simple activities that we have continued to engage in is handing out toothbrushes and toothpaste. We have, to date, taken donated items with us in our luggage. Long term this is costly and we will, this year look to buy stock in country.
Through regular visits to villages we can followup with this care.
We can also determine cases that need referral to the visiting Dental volunteer groups to Pet Yei Che. So we look to catalogue and coordinate that these people look to get to the clinic when the volunteers arrive.