Global Dental Brigades at UC Santa Cruz
Global Dental Brigade (GDB) consists of dental and dental hygiene student volunteers and dental professionals to provide dental care to in-need communities. The group functions like a mobile dental unit in conjunction with the medical brigade, setting up small clinics to diagnose and treat patients at no cost. From in-take, to triage, to anesthesia, to dental treatment, the volunteers experience the many realms of the dental profession under the guidance of licensed dental professionals. Medical Brigade students will be working with Dental Brigades to help generate better patient flow as well as give students experience in the different forms of medicine and health. This is a new addition to the Medical Brigades!
What is a Brigade?
The Dental Brigade will run together with Medical Brigades which includes, intake, triage, and consultations. The Dental Brigade is able to generate a separate station dedicated to dental hygiene and surgical which includes specific duties in which dental students, dental professionals, as well we volunteering students are able to partake in. Proper preventative dental care will help stop the most common chronic disease at its root, protect the children from severe dental decay before 12 years of age and provide the foundation to start a new trend of passing down proper oral hygiene care through families. This is GREAT HANDS ON experience for those who are interested in dentistry, medicine, as well for anyone who wants to broaden their experience in international medicine and public health.
Screening and Diagnosis
This station is comprised of dental students who will who attend to patients after they have been through triage. These students will screen the patient’s mouth for decayed, missing and filled teeth. Any other significant observations will also be recorded, such as cleft pallets, asymmetry of the face or any infections present. The patient will then be sent to anesthesia if they have any cavities or need extractions. If not then they will be sent to the dental cleaning section.
Anesthesia
In this station, dentists or dental students, depending on their year in dental school, will administer anesthesia to the patients. Topical maybe used prior to giving the injection. The patient will then wait for about 5-10 minutes prior to procedure for the anesthesia to set in.
Screening and Diagnosis
This station is comprised of dental students who will who attend to patients after they have been through triage. These students will screen the patient’s mouth for decayed, missing and filled teeth. Any other significant observations will also be recorded, such as cleft pallets, asymmetry of the face or any infections present. The patient will then be sent to anesthesia if they have any cavities or need extractions. If not then they will be sent to the dental cleaning section.
Anesthesia
In this station, dentists or dental students, depending on their year in dental school, will administer anesthesia to the patients. Topical maybe used prior to giving the injection. The patient will then wait for about 5-10 minutes prior to procedure for the anesthesia to set in.
Treatment
Depending on the extent of decay the patient may be sent to the extraction section or to the restorative section (if we are able to get a portable high/low speed, H2O, air unit). At the extraction section, extractions will take place and at the restorative site composite or amalgam will be placed as fillings.
Oral Hygiene Instructions
EVERY patient will receive proper OHI, shown on typodonts so that they know the correct way to brush their teeth. EVERY patient will receive a toothbrush, and a tube of toothpaste.
Post Treament
Patients will receive Ibuprofin for pain, for more extensive pain other medicines maybe given out if we they are in our local pharmacy or you bring them.
Depending on the extent of decay the patient may be sent to the extraction section or to the restorative section (if we are able to get a portable high/low speed, H2O, air unit). At the extraction section, extractions will take place and at the restorative site composite or amalgam will be placed as fillings.
Oral Hygiene Instructions
EVERY patient will receive proper OHI, shown on typodonts so that they know the correct way to brush their teeth. EVERY patient will receive a toothbrush, and a tube of toothpaste.
Post Treament
Patients will receive Ibuprofin for pain, for more extensive pain other medicines maybe given out if we they are in our local pharmacy or you bring them.
Instrument Sterilization
The instruments used will be washed, scrubed, and sterilzed in various solutions in order to maximize bacteria transfer and for hygienic reasons.
Dental Cleaning
If the patient, mostly children, do not require extraction or fillings, general teeth cleanings can be administered. If the calculus is not extensive then polishing can also be preformed. The extent of cleaning is dependent on if the group can raise enough money to get the equipment to do these cleanings. Otherwise, Global Dental Brigades can provide equipment in-country.
The instruments used will be washed, scrubed, and sterilzed in various solutions in order to maximize bacteria transfer and for hygienic reasons.
Dental Cleaning
If the patient, mostly children, do not require extraction or fillings, general teeth cleanings can be administered. If the calculus is not extensive then polishing can also be preformed. The extent of cleaning is dependent on if the group can raise enough money to get the equipment to do these cleanings. Otherwise, Global Dental Brigades can provide equipment in-country.