USA Utah

Utah Group Delivers Dental Care in the Dominican Republic

L to R: Dr. Ganon Rowan, Dr. José Saldaña, Senator Reinaldo Pérez, Dr. Len Aste, Dr. Walter Gonzalez.

Case Western Reserve School of Dentistry students in the Dominican Republic ready to provide services in the clinic.

In mid January 2011, Dr. Len Aste of Manti, Utah, led his G3 Foundation group of 53 participants to the Dominican Republic for a humanitarian mission to provide both dental and medical services to the people of this Caribbean island nation. In Utah he organized a group from the United States comprised of 15 dentists, one hygienist, one physician, two physician assistants, one nurse, 15 dental students from Case Western Reserve School of Dentistry, seven pre-dental students, and 11 dental and medical assistants and volunteers. All participants from the United States paid their own travel expenses and committed 100% of their energies and time to the 5 clinical days of service that included pedodontics, endodontics, removable prosthetics, restorative, periodontics, oral surgery, dental radiology, and medical procedures. More than 500 dental procedures and 1200 medical services were performed in the 5 clinical days. Some of the dentists were of Dr. Rowan's family and were from Merced, California.

Local coordination of clinic sites, travel, and lunches have been provided for years by Dominican dentist Dr. Walter Gonzalez, who also enlisted assistance from five local dentists, a local prosthetic dental laboratory, and four Dominican dental students from the University of Santo Domingo School of Dentistry. Publicity and security were provided by Dr. Reinaldo Perez, president of the Dominican national senate, who has been a strong supporter of these excursions for years and welcomes the services provided to his people. His visits to the clinic sites in Santo Domingo were aired on national television during the visit.

The G3 Foundation group has made this trip at least once a year, and sometimes twice a year, since 1998. As a recipient of their first Foundation of Pierre Fauchard Academy grant in 2010, Dr. Aste's group was able to add a portable generator for power supply to their existing portable dental clinic which consists of 10 dental units, four cavitrons, multiple surgical instruments, and a portable digital x-ray system. Participants also brought donated dental and medical supplies and disposables to meet the daily needs of the portable clinic. The grant Dr. Aste received from the G3 Foundation was compliant with all the Foundation of Pierre Fauchard Academy grant requirements, and no money was used for travel expenses, salaries, or office supplies. If your 501 (c) 3 organization is interested in making a grant application, please see the grant requirements posted on the Fauchard.org web site under "Foundation" and "Grants" or use this direct link:
http://www.fauchard.org/foundation/grants.html