GIVING BACK

As we all know, overall health is dependent on good oral healthcare, and as Canadians, we are privileged to have easy access to the care we need. The same is not true in the Caribbean. With just one public dentist for every 100,000 people in rural Jamaica, these families have little access to dental care. With DMC, you can help by joining our annual Caribbean Dental Outreach trip, where volunteers set up temporary dental clinics to provide cleanings, extractions, sealants, surgery, dentures, and oral health education in Jamaica, Grenada, and Saint Lucia.

To join the DMC team, contact Michael Carabash at michael@dentistlawyers.ca today.

Who: Dental professionals, dental students and non-dental professionals (e.g. friends, family, support staff, lawyers, etc.) who can help out with patient flow, sterilization and chair side assisting and education.

Where: The 1,000 Smiles Program runs in various parts of the Caribbean, including Jamaica, Grenada and St. Lucia. The locations for the DMC team are determined each year with Great Shape! Inc., depending upon timing and needs of the various programming.

Cost: Thanks to the Sandals Foundation, all your accommodations, meals, transportation (on the island), and entertainment is covered. Volunteers stay at one of Sandals luxury resorts during the entire 10-day trip. So all participants need to pay for is their own airfare to and from, plus an administration fee of USD$900 to Great Shape! Inc. Dentists and hygienists must also buy or procure donations for all supplies necessary to serve 75 patients per week. All other volunteers need to bring 2 boxes of gloves in their size and 200 toothbrushes. 

Schedule: Volunteers arrive on a Saturday and typically stay for 10 days. Orientation and set up takes place on the first Monday. Volunteering takes place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. Volunteers leave the following Sunday. Evenings and weekends offer free time.