Success One Child at a Time
After 5 long days, limited internet connection, rainy weather, power outages and more, the team succeded in treating 251 patients and completed 222 extractions and 60 cleanings in two locations, Ilha do Araujo and Condado - a location that bore the brunt of an historic flood in January 2009.

We ended the trip with a special treat. The team spent Halloween weekend in Rio.

We all arrived safely home on Monday or Tuesday after the plane from Rio was canceled and we were all re-routed.

The experience was life changing for me. I can't wait to do it again.

Day 4 and 5

This second location was a surprise to the team and the community as it was only decided at 8 am that very morning that the team would set up clinic in the Family Center - an open air assistance center.

Upon arrival at the family center, we found a very willing and able assistant named "Dona Elaine". She was just as surprised as we were and graciously accepted us into her space.

Within minutes of our arrival, word spread through the community and throngs of residents began to arrive.

In need of more tables, we quickly began to scout the local houses and comandered the dining and kitchen table of Pedro, a very willing and kind man.

We were able to convince the children that "bugs" are eating their teeth and they only way to kill the bugs is to brush, brush, brush. Apprehensive faces sometimes left the dental table with smiles, sometimes in tears.

Throughout the day, children began showing up with mom or dad or siblings in tow. All received oral hygiene instruction and left with a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss - their "badge of honor". Several requests for extra toothbrushes for those at home were politely refused. They are an incentive to get the unwilling to come for a visit.


After the children were screened by Rob, the team leader, and Dana, the executive director, who speaks fluent Portuguese, they waited for treatment. If they were lucky (or should I say educated enough to have been brushing their teeth consistently), Susan cleaned their teeth.



The bad news is that most had no prior dental care. Caprice and Rob, our dentists, pulled 252 teeth

After 26 hours of travel, 1 long plane ride, a 4 hour bus ride bus ride through the winding country side and one 40 minute ride on a small wooden fishing boat, we arrived on the Ilha do Araujo.

After a hot showers and a meal, the team was down for the night.






An early wake up, a hearty breakfast and a walk down up and down the trail, the team reached the school and clinic where they would be working. In the first day, our small but might team, screened 40 patients and treated 19. A majority of the children when asked, replied that this was their first dental visit. That's a good thing - they don't know to be fearful.

The Team

Team members include Dr. Robert Arbuckle (Wilton, CT), Dr. Caprice Dakwar (Rochester, NY), Susan Frank - RDH (Harrison, NY) , Rebecca Trimarchi - dental assistant (Carmel, NY), Sharon Kleinberg - assistant (New York, NY) and Dana Buffin - team administrator (Sherman, CT). Graziella and Marco (Support staff from Brazil)

Packing

It's time to get organized.

The Weather

It is late spring in Brazil. Apparently it is raining quite a bit. Add to list: rain poncho and sneakers for mud.