Ocho Rios Residents Benefiting from Free Dental Services

Residents of Ocho Rios and surrounding communities in St. Ann are receiving free dental services under the Great Shape! Inc. 1000 Smiles project.

The initiative involves collaboration with Sandals Foundation and the North East Regional Health Authority (NERHA).

The dental team, comprised of local and international dentists and volunteers, is undertaking its annual community outreach in the resort town over three weeks, from August 11 to 29, bringing brighter, healthier smiles to citizens.

They are in the second week of a two-week clinic at the Ocho Rios High School and will be at the Eltham Community Centre from August 25 to 29.

In addition to providing services such as cleaning, filling, extraction, and root canal treatments, the team will supply free dentures and mouthguards to members of the Ocho Rios High School football team.

Now in its 23rd year, the partnership between Sandals Foundation and international charity Great Shape! Inc. has not only provided essential dental services for thousands of needy Jamaicans in communities across the island but has changed their lives by improving their employability and their self-confidence.

Speaking with JIS News at Ocho Rios High School on August 13, Endodontist with the Great Shape! 1000 Smiles project, Dr. Maneesh Sharma, said the focus of the outreach is to help residents preserve their teeth.

“Some dental needs are being left, unfortunately, too long and so there are incidents of teeth needing extraction,” he said.

Dr. Sharma emphasised that the work being done has far-reaching effects on patients’ lives.

He noted that in just two days, the team had already completed 15 root canal treatments.

“For a lot of these people, it’s life-changing because we’re saving front teeth and… they feel better about themselves. It’s very good,” Dr. Sharma shared.

Co-Director of Great Shape! Inc. 1000 Smiles, Dr. Michael Krawczuk, said the project seeks to expand its reach every year.

He noted that “dentistry is very expensive all over the world, not just in Jamaica”, and as such, the partnership between Great Shape and Sandals is integral in reaching persons who cannot afford dental care.

Dr. Krawchuk told JIS News that most patients visit the clinics for teeth cleaning but often require treatment beyond that service.

He noted that the dental team carries out a full oral assessment to determine the care patients need.

“We can identify a lot of things through the mouth, like diabetes which presents with a dry mouth, for instance,” he pointed out.

“So, we kind of try and educate the patient as much as we can about their mouth. We always have a quick little look inside as well. We’re looking for cancers, tumors, anything that could be suspicious,” he said.

For many persons, who attend the clinics, the impact of the services provided is profound.

Seventy-seven-year-old Deloris Williams-Daley, who told JIS News that she arrived at the clinic at 4:00 a.m. on August 13, expressed gratitude for the treatment she received.

“I came here to take out a tooth, but the doctors said my teeth were too strong and nothing is wrong with them, so they gave me a cleaning. I’m very glad for you guys,” she said.

Guidance Counsellor at the St. Ann’s Bay Primary School, Shaneen Gray, who was visiting the clinic for a second consecutive year, was impressed with the professionalism and kindness of the team.

“They were very professional, very nice, and they gave good service. Also, after we were finished, they were able to give us toothbrush and toothpaste, and they walked with us to ensure that all was well,” she shared.

“To fill a tooth here in Jamaica, to do a root canal, and even extraction and cleaning is very, very expensive. We are tremendously grateful for the service,” Ms. Grey said.

Another resident who was also returning for the second consecutive year, praised Great Shape and the Sandals Foundation for allowing her to smile confidently without the financial strain.

“I am here from Monday and today is Wednesday. Today is the third day and I finally, finally got my root canal done on my front tooth. The cost for it is actually over $100,000 here in Jamaica and I couldn’t afford it. That is why I took the chance to come here early in the morning to get through with my root canal treatment,” she said.

For her part, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, Heidi Clarke, expressed thanks to all stakeholders who make the annual community outreach possible.

“We thank the Ministry of Health [and Wellness], our dental organisation and, of course, the incredible volunteers who give up their time,” she said.

She also commended the Sandals Ocho Rios team, which helps “to organise all the local logistics, everything from lunches, the hotel stays, the transportation [and] just ensuring that our volunteers get out and offer the services where they’re needed most”, Ms. Clarke told JIS News, noting that Sandals is hosting more than 70 volunteers.

Meanwhile, Regional Public Relations Manager at Sandals Ochi, Lyndsay Isaacs, highlighted the impact on the local community.

“We wanted them (volunteers) to experience authentic Jamaican cuisine, and we employ our contractors, our local providers in the community to cook food and serve them hot meals,” she told JIS News.

She noted that the community members look forward to the annual dental outreach, noting that they take vacation and days off from work to attend the clinics.