2009 Operation Smile Vietnam Dental Report

2009 Operation Smile Vietnam Dental Report

The 13th Annual Operation Smile Vietnam recently took place March 21-27, 2009, and I'm happy to report the mission was a resounding success. This year's host cities were Hanoi and Hue. In Hanoi, we received gracious support from the Hanoi Medical School and Cuba Hospital as well as the Hue Odonto-Stomatological Hospital. There were a total of five outreach vans, staffed with Operation Smile Vietnam dental

professionals, which traveled throughout Hue, including remote areas outside of the city.

According to the Vietnam Dental Report 2009 compiled by Dr. D. Michael Gioffre Jr., we were able to reach out to 4,175 children in need and provided them with various services in dental hygiene, nutrition, and oral health instruction. More importantly, many children received vital comprehensive treatments at Hanoi and Hue sites. A total of 7,554 dental procedures were completed which consisted of dental prophylaxis, sealants, fillings, extractions, along with root canals and stainless steel crowns on permanent teeth. These numbers pale in comparison to the countless hours of hard work, care and selfless dedication put forth by our team members.

A large number of children received much needed dental care, but more importantly, a greater emphasis was placed on the continuing oral health of not only children, but of health professionals in Vietnam.

One of the highlights of the dental mission was an educational symposium hosted by the Hanoi Medical School. The symposium, conducted by our tireless international volunteers included lectures and discussions on a variety of dental topics and was extremely well-received by more than 250 dental professionals and students from the Hanoi Medical School and surrounding areas.

Operation Smile Vietnam will always have a heavy emphasis placed on the care and treatment of children in need, but we believe that true change can only take place when the people of Vietnam can eventually provide for their own needs. With that in mind, the exchange and transmission of information between the dental professionals and students of Vietnam alongside the international volunteers is vital to the long-term success of dental care in Vietnam. We hope this information passed from dental professional to parents and children, will carry from one generation to the next.

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Dane Hoang, DDS, MS