Henry Schein Dental UK supports new mission of Dentistry for Every Village Foundation in the Philippines

This late summer, the team, led by Edgardo (Ed) de la Vega, a practicing dentist in Canoga Park, California and founder of the Dentistry for Every Village Foundation, organised a dental mission for the indigenous Aeta people of Porac Pampanga in the Philippines. The Aetas formerly lived in the mountains of Zambales Province but were relocated due to the eruption of Mount Pinatubo back in 1991.

The dental mission provided basic and emergency dentistry for those suffering from oral health due to deficient access to health care facilities, lack of education, or poverty. During the outreach, the team of 16 volunteer dentists, including members of the ICD Philippines Section, dental nurses and auxiliary personnel, saw more than 235 patients, many of whom required multiple procedures. The health care professionals performed more than 800 procedures including oral exams, prophylaxis, restorative fillings, application of fluoride sealants, and extractions. In addition, patient education sessions on oral health care were given and toothbrushes and fluoridated toothpaste distributed.