Clinic Days 6,7,8

Clinic Day 6, Wednesday

We saw 8 patients today.  Three were Kenyans who own a second home close to the clinic.  They live in Manchester England!  We saw mom and her daughter and son, both students at one of the universities in Manchester.  Mom lost a crown, we scrambled to find some cement to put it back on, the daughter needed a filling, and her brother looked good.  All very appreciative of the free care we provided!  Oh, they all had a very lilty English accent.

The other patients all needed teeth extracted.  One gal was in her eighth month of her fourth pregnancy.  We got the tooth out.  Labor did not begin……

Clinic Day 7, Thursday

Slowwwww day, only 5 patients.  When a dental clinic is open 5 days a week, year around, it is much different then when you sail to an island and the population has never seen a dentist before, (and may never again)…..our experience in Vanuatu years ago.

Clinic Day 8, Friday

Now we are back in business….sorta.  Busy day, 15 patients.  All extractions, because…..the air compressor is not working today so I cannot use the handpiece to prepare teeth for fillings.  AND, I can’t do any surgical extractions, (not just pulling a tooth, but removing bone around the tooth so that I CAN pull the tooth.)----sorry for the graphic nature of this last sentence---

But, we have a job to do.  This means very carefully removing teeth that I would normally surgically prepare prior to their removal.  But with a bit of extra time and careful pressure, I managed to easy them all out without any broken roots, bone, etc. (graphic again, sorry).  This resulted in a sore right arm, and a developing blister on my right ring finger.  For you workout enthusiasts, today was my right arm and hand day.

Here are a few pictures of our clinic. 

A very nice clinic.  The front portion, first floor is the 3-chair clinic.  The back of the building, first floor is where William lives, Tom and Kathy's bedroom, and an area for staff to change and eat lunch.  The second floor is where we stay.  A large bedroom and bath, and a kitchen/dining/living room, with a back screened porch so we can watch the baboons and monkey play.

The dedication plaque next to the front door

The water buffalo skull above the door.

A local warrior/maiden defending the clinic with a lion spear.