Transit from US to Kenya for a month of volunteer dentistry

Introduction as to why and where we are working in Kenya:  First, the detailed history of the Maasai Dental Clinic can be found at https://whdo-public.sharepoint.com/ .  Briefly this clinic was the vision of Dr. Ray Damazo to provide free dental care for the 100,000 Maasai villagers who are within walking distance.  It was opened in 2009 and to date almost 100 volunteer dentists have treated over 10,000 patients.  Dr. Grossman, also at Twain Harte Family Dental Care, was here in July of 2014.

Dentists from all over the world volunteer for a 2 or 4 week rotation.  There is a very pleasant apartment up stairs.  We have three dental assistants, a 3-chair first-world clinic downstairs and we are open for business for whoever drops in as they are herding their cattle or goats, and other villagers who may have walked a couple of days for us to treat their pain Monday through Friday.  Fillings, cleanings and extractions are the typical treatment. 

Now, on to our adventure getting here.  This seems like the longest dental service journey from doorstep to doorstep.  I counted just over 40 hours.  Our destination was not difficult to get to, just time consuming.  In brief: 6 hour drive from Twain Harte to LAX, 15 hour non-stop to Doha, Qatar with a 9 hour layover.  Then a 5 hour flight to Nairobi and another 6 hour drive to the clinic.  Not listed is the time prior to flights, waiting in lines, immigration challenges, etc.

Backing up, we arrived in Nairobi at around 8AM with Harrison, our driver holding up a drawing of a tooth, our signal that he was our man.  After a hiccup in immigration with our e-visa’s not printed out properly and a trip to an ATM, we embarked on a 3 hour journey to Narok.  The ‘stepping-off-point’.  (meaning, end-of-decent-road-point!).

Narok is where we filled two shopping carts for our one month stay at the clinic.   A word about our meals.  We are responsible for our transportation to the clinic, but we are provided some meals at the neighboring  3-star Siana Springs Tented Camp.  http://www.siana-springs.co.ke/index.php .  Not all meals are provided.  Hence the need for two carts of food.  Why Narok?  That’s it for civilization.  Now back to our final three hours from the market to the dental clinic.

William, the clinic manager, met us at the market and we bid Harrison adieu.  We transferred all our luggage and now multiple food boxes and sacks into William’s ‘safari vehicle’.  What followed was three hours of washboard, washed out road, dust and bumps.  Webster’s defines ‘middle-of-no-where’ as Maasi Dental Clinic.

We arrive at 5:30pm, unpacked all our suitcases and food, dinner at the Lodge and collapse in bed.  We ignored the baboons and monkeys roaming about.

Clinic Day One

As mentioned, the clinic is a nice 3 chair modern clinic.  We open at 8:30 or when the first patient arrives.  The 3 assistants bring each patient in, determine their chief complaint, typically take an x-ray then talk to Gloria or me about treatment.  Traditionally, the patients will have multiple problems but a single complaint and we treat the complaint.  We saw 14 patients today, mostly extractions, a few fillings, several cleanings.  Because it is staffed by paid employees, lunch is from 12:30-2:00, and we shut the doors at 4:00.  Also, if it quiets down in the late afternoon, the assistants shut the doors and leave early!  Today, with only two patients in the PM, they closed up shop a bit before 4!

Overall, a good first day.  X-rays can be both helpful and intimidating.  Let me explain.  Except for China, years ago, I have not had x-rays to diagnose teeth.  If the patient is in pain, they point to the tooth and I pull it, (or them).  With patience, I can ease most teeth out, not leaving roots or parts.  I’ve pulled thousands, leaving probably fewer than ten root fragments.  With x-rays it is almost like ‘too much information’. 

Clinic Day Two

 Whitney Houston and losing #8…..The assistants put on a Whitney Houston CD, went through it twice.  Nice throw back to the 90’s.  Fewer patients today.  Again, mostly 3^rd molars.  A couple of cleanings and we ended the day with a 14(?) year old girl with a shattered upper front tooth.  She told us that her brother threw a rock at her.   Not sure if there was intent involved.  Unfortunately, it had to be extracted.

In reference, most children have their two lower, central incisors extracted when they are young.  Part of a passage to adulthood, they either have them removed at the clinic with anesthesia or in their village with a knife!  Losing an upper front tooth is not too stressful for them.   Speaking of childhood, we have learned that many people here do not know how old they are, both children and adults.  No one has told them when they were born!  We guess their age by looking at their dentition.

Clinic Day Three

 Late start, around 10:00am.  First patient, a nicely dressed lady.  She needed two teeth removed.  Her hair was beautiful, everything in braids.  I asked my assistant, Grace, if I could compliment my patient on her braided hair.  Grace giggled, she said they were extensions.  Clueless……

A few more extractions and a couple of cleanings and a filling ended the day.  We did have a Kenyan family that came in for some dental work, not dressed as in Maasai dress.  More western, excellent English.  After they left us, they went to the bar at the Resort for drinks, and then returned for pictures with the staff.  Hmm, VIP’s?  I guess we will never know.

These guys are looking in our windows as we see patients!