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nmdental.orgelectricity, no suction, and no x-rays. I
used a hiker’s headlamp and used cotton
balls for visibility. To sterilize instru-
ments, I soaked them in Clorox for at
least two hours. My oldest patient was
my wife’s 87-year-old uncle. He asked
me to extract seven root tips in one day
and came back the next day to take out
another six roots. I worked all day and
into the night, using my headlamp in
95 degrees and 85% humidity. There
was a pig pen outside the window and
a studious pig stood on his rear legs,
snorting and watching my work for the
entire four days. People were talking and
ranting with glee. I asked my wife what
they were saying. She translated,
“Pinch me. I can’t
believe that he is
really here to help us.
No one has ever come
here to help us.”
My second series of Mexican missions
started in 2002. My hiking buddy, Dr.
Steven Heath, asked me if I would join
a group that was planning a medical
mission to Central Mexico in the moun-
tain villages near Durango, Mexico. The
group leader was an RN originally from
the area. They would coordinate with
the local authorities to obtain necessary
permits and clearances in the town of
Suchil. We named our group “Salud
Para Suchil.” The team consisted of
two internists, one pediatrician, one
dentist, three RNs, one dental assistant,
and the children and spouses of the
core group. We paid $100 each for our
living and travel expenses. With help
from the Catholic Church in Gallup,
New Mexico, we obtained tax deduc-
tion status and garnered donations from
local businesses and drug companies. I
supplied the dental equipment for the
dental part and my wife donated two
used reclining chairs from her beauty
salon. For dry heat sterilization, I used
a Black & Decker toaster oven at 500
degrees for one hour.
The medical members of our group were
impressed by what services and supplies
that I, as a dentist, could provide.
They only provided a few months of
medications for chronic conditions
(pain, diabetes, hypertension, etc.). In
dentistry, we perform surgery on almost
every patient and we are the branch of
medicine that actually cures disease. We
follow the surgeon’s creed, “A chance to
cut is a chance to cure.” I think my MD
friends were jealous.
We travelled across the Mexican border
and drove all day, past Durango, Mexico
to the town of Suchil. This was our
staging area. We met other Mexican
volunteers, officials, and local villagers
to form a truck caravan as we traversed
the dangerous, boulder filled trails and
crossed several streams. We set up our
tents and kitchen equipment in a goat
corral which offered some protection
from wild creatures. All night we listened
to nonstop hee-haws by herds of mules.
Our services were provided in classrooms
at this location and, in different villages,
we worked in community centers or
schools. I participated at Suchil with the
same group the following year.
In summary, I really do not understand
why I volunteer, and why I chose a career
in public health dentistry working for
the needy. Instead, I feel like I have been
chosen to do these things. I am lucky
to be asked to participate in dentistry
missions and I meet most challenges
with a firm belief in myself. That is
what some people call the personal
“paycheck.” Volunteering experiences
are challenges outside my comfort zone
that allow me to better meet the next
challenge that comes my way.