Dr. Dwight McCleod

The Jamaican Dental Mission: A project of caring and sharing

 

There is no School of dentistry in Jamaica.  Most of the dentists there come to the US for their education, and then return to practice.  There is a prevalence of dental disease in the country.  The ratio of patients to dentists are 1:17,000 verses the recommended 1:2750. 

 

Dr. McCleod teaches at SIUE and started the mission in 2000 with 19 volunteers.  This is their program's 10th year and their goal is to not only treat, but to educate preventative care.  They also have a long term goal to build a permanent facility over there. 

 

During the mission they work simultaneously out of 3 clinics in the rural areas.  All volunteers are welcome.  They have started to collaborate with the school of pharmacy to do pre-op and pre-screening work, which opens up more time for procedures.    July 19-26th is their next mission.  It is hot and long work during their time there, but the benefits far outreach the work.  Students build up experience and confidence, and find the work very rewarding.  Currently they fill such needs as replacing missing teeth and provide fillings.  They also do extractions, restorations and deep cleanings.  Someday in the future they would like to do dentures, root canals, and have access to X-rays.