Members of Teethsavers who traveled to Zambia last summer (2004):

Ross McCuistion

Discovering a Whole New World

Following graduation from high school I wanted to do something that would change the world. Being 18 years-old with my whole life ahead I thought now was my time to make a difference. My father knew of a fellow dentist named who Jack Rudd was working as a volunteer in Zambia. He suggested that I go to Africa, offer my help to Dr. Rudd and see what happens. I knew that Dr. Rudd had a heart for the people of Africa and was doing the kind of work that I wanted to do in life. I emailed him and asked if I come to Zambia and help him. Little did I know that I was beginning a journey that would make me a new person, profoundly affecting the way I view the world.

Not one to waste time, the day after graduation I was on a plane to Zambia. Upon my arrival Dr. Rudd showed me the Teethsavers Six-Year Molar Focus School he had started in the Chipata district of Zambia. I did not realize it at the time but I had arrived just as the students were ready to make their first trip into the field to put their new knowledge to work.

In the Chipata District there are a few white people but as soon as we left the town and entered the rural area there were almost no white people to be found. It was interesting to be a member of a minority as I had not had that experience before. We spent one entire day making the trek to the village, having to walk the last portion of the journey. When we finally arrived at Sese I was at the front because I was so excited and I wanted to see everything. I was greeted by an elderly lady who said, I have not seen a white man since 1965 when we kicked the British out of our country. That was a surprise!

The next morning we got up and found a couple of hundred children already at our door ready to treatment. We were fortunate in having the support of the local teacher. He had told the villagers that we were coming and urged them to come to the clinic. We had insisted that the parents come with the children so that we could begin the education process. Most of the training focused not eating the sugar cane and brushing the first permanent molars to prevent decay. After each training session we did an exam to look for dental decay on the first permanent molars. If there was decay we referred them inside the school.

The Six-Year Molar Focus School students inside the school would place the child on a bench and examine them further. There was no possibility of these children ever seeing a dentist and there were no rotary instruments or anesthetic available. Therefore, the only treatment option was to scoop out the decay in the first molars and place the filling material in the tooth. The research shows this technique to be very effective if sugar cane is not eaten.

We were quickly overwhelmed because children were coming from all of the neighboring villages. We had planned on spending each day at a different village but it became apparent that they were coming from all over and it was really easier for us to stay in one place and use the truck to bring in the children. Many of the adults wanted treatment. However based on the experience of other clinics similar to ours decided not to see adults because we feared we would not even have the resources to satisfy the children s needs.

We treated as many children as possible in the next three days. It was all an experience I will never forget! Now I am now a junior at Texas Tech University. I have continued to help support Dr. Rudd by serving on the Teethsavers International Board of Directors. I don t know if I will be able to change the world but I have seen the need and am ready to embrace whatever my future holds.

Ross is a Junior Business Major at Texas Tech University

Rodger & Cindy
McCuistion

Sewing Skirts in SeSe

My experience at Sese was quite amazing. Jack had told me I to be prepared to work with the women of the village. I had taken along lots of perfume, soap and lotion samples and some costume jewelry because I thought they would enjoy them. (They did!) Also I took fabric with which I had planned to show the women how to braid rag rugs. I didn t know what to expect and thought they would enjoy making the rugs and then have the rugs to use.

I had all the women in one classroom while the dental clinic was being held in the other classroom. That first day as I was showing the women (a school full of them) how to make the rugs one of the husbands interrupted me saying, They really wanted to learn how to sew clothes! So I quickly figured out how we could use the fabric I had brought to make skirts instead of rugs. I had a few large, crude needles I had bought in Chipata and a couple of spools of thread. I took about a yard and a half of fabric and wrapped it around each woman. They then stitched up the side and gathered the waist. They attached a waist band and we tied a bow in the back. The skirts were a terrific success and the women loved being in the schoolyard style show we held the last day.

After leaving I was told the women sold the skirts, invested the profits in fish and stocked a pond. They now use the fish to provide their families with much needed protein and sell some of the fish for profit. Nothing feels better than knowing you have made a difference in the life of others.

Cindy is a former teacher who has returned to Texas Tech and is working on a Bachelor of Interior Design

My Experience in Zambia

Dealing with the people in Zambia was truly a humbling experience. I had been told that I should limit my treatment to children because the need was so great that we would be overwhelmed. After arriving I saw a number of people with bad infections and began treating the adults also. Unfortunately, we were quickly over whelmed and were not able to even make a dent in the problems in Zambia. We would never be able to send enough dentist and workers to solve the problems. Clearly the best solution is to train the local people and have them treat the population. This is what Dr. Rudd has been doing. I have been impressed with the large number of children that they have been able to treat. We do need to teach a few and have them treat many.

Rodger is a general dentist in Lubbock, Texas

Past and Future volunteers traveling to Zambia:

Niyati Gupta & Lauren Griffin

Hey, this is Niyati and Lauren and we're dental students at the University of Newcastle - upon - Tyne in England. At the end of the fourth year of our course, the university offers us time off to experience dentistry in another part of the world. We are both good friends and when we were told about this, we decided that we'd like to go somewhere that neither of us had ever been to before. We are really excited about joining the project in Zambia, and having an experience that would not be possible as tourists. Whilst in Africa we hope to learn about and experience a whole new way of life, and in return contribute to better oral health through the 'Teethsavers' project.

Reena Reddy

I do not know what lies ahead but I do know that choosing to volunteer with Teethsavers will definitely change my outlook on life. By traveling to Chipata this summer I hope to gain insight into the lives and in turn the struggles of the people of Zambia. I and most probably the rest of us take for granted what we have, so in order to spread our benefits we need to acknowledge the problems out there and volunteer our time to help solve them.


Reena works in a Molecular Endocrinology lab at the Texas Tech University School of Medicine. She is currently applying to dental school.

Being Involved with Teethsavers - Experiences from the Field
By Catherine Bailey, BDS, student Sheffield University, UK

As the sun is setting the schoolhouse near Chiapata comes into view. I am sitting on the back of a large truck laden high with the equipment and supplies remaining…not forgetting the 14 members of the Teethsavers team of operators and assistants. I am a fourth year dental student who decided to spend my elective period of study with Teethsavers and after the first trip I am so glad I have had the chance to experience the program, which has been set up by Dr. Jack Rudd to deliver dental care and education to the children in the surrounding area where there is a great need for care but no other available source.

We have been in 3 groups each at a different village for four days to educate, screen and treat the children and educate the parents in oral health. The team I was working with screened and treated over 500 children and educated over 300 parents! The treatment given includes the filling of teeth delivered without anaesthetic (Atraumatic restorations) and the cleaning of hard debris (calculus) from the teeth which has caused the gums to become inflamed.

I was so impressed with the compassion and dedication of all of the members and how welcome they made me feel. We stayed in a classroom and cooked on a charcoal stove. The villagers welcomed us and were very interested in hearing to oral health education being given. This was given to the children and if possible their parents in a very easy to understand and remember way: clean the six year molars by brushing eight times every day! The children wanted to be taught…many walking miles in the heat and waiting their turn patiently. On talking to a group of children I discovered that many feel shame about the state of their dentition and are aware and self conscious about bad breath!

It is clear the benefits already gained and to be gained in the future will be immense! Teethsavers is an organization that has and can help to improve the Zambian children’s quality of life by improving their oral health.

Katharina Kallen

Our month at Teethsavers:

We, two students from Cologne, Germany, spent the month of August, 2007, in Chipata, Zambia. We were extremely excited before our journey. There were so many things we had to think of and so many questions we could not answer. But once we arrived at Jack’s school everything turned out just fine. He and Doreen welcomed us very warmly and helped us to team up right away.
Since the children in Zambia had summer vacations when we arrived at Teethsavers, we went to the South Luangwa National Park; the team had to organize some alternatives to reach out to the little patients.

By the time we came back to Jack’s school we started working: At eight o’clock the equipment for the treatments got packed on a big truck, things like benches, chairs, small tables, instruments for medical treatment, cooking devices etc. Finally, the team -around twenty persons- got on the truck and we went off to a village where the children were already waiting for us.

It was so impressive seeing all those children full of excitement. Some of them had never seen a white person before, so they screamed “usungu” (white stranger) all the time.
First the children got divided into groups. Then each group got a lesson in brushing teeth with their new toothbrushes and Teethsaver’s staff taught them what the six-year molar is. After that each child got a screening whether treatment is necessary. Last but not least came the treatment. We usually both screened and conducted treatment.

During the semester the team went to a school close to Chipata on a Monday and stayed there for the week. They slept in the classroom. We did it once, it was a real adventure and a bit like camping.

All the team members got educated in Jack’s school. At the moment Jack has no students.
He moved with his team to Katete. Katete is situated at about a one-hour’s drive from Chipata by taxi.

Here are some helpful hints if you consider joining Teethsavers as well.

1.Flight:
Take a flight to Lilongwe, Malawi and not to Lusaka, Zambia, as it is too far away. Think about the visa.

2.Money:
Just take dollars, mostly big banknotes then you get more money at the exchange office.

3.Malaria:
Think about taking some malaria prophylaxis.

4.For camping:
Bring a sleeping bag and a torch with you.

Although we did quite some travelling on our own over the weekends we never felt in danger, very much to the contrary of what you might expect beforehand. I would go there again and I have plans for returning to Africa

Matt Mitchell Reflections for website

I traveled to Chipata, Zambia June of 2007 with a team from our church and spent a week with Dr. Jack Rudd and his amazing team of Teethsavers. It was and will remain one of the highlights of my life. We were instantly received with warm smiles and included as a part of their team from the minute we arrived. What a thrill to a part of a team that is going out into the communities of Zambia and making a difference in the lives of little children and families alike. And when I say a part of the team, I mean it! We were put right at a workstation and allowed to help and watch as these incredible operators and assistants went about their work. Hundreds of children are seen each day and trained about proper oral health. Teethsavers is an organization that will see fruit from its work for decades to come. I encourage any who are interested to make the journey to Africa and spend some time with these wonderful people. It changed my life and I’m sure it will do the same for you.

Rev. Matt Mitchell
Associate Pastor for Mission and Student Ministries
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Lubbock, TX