|
The graduates of the Zambia Six-Year Molar Focus School in Chipata are registered and the school approved by Medical Council
of Zambia. The school was founded in 2003.
This officialy establishes a new category of Dental School Education.
_________________________________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
TEETHSAVERS INTERNATIONAL, Inc.
Teethsavers System:
Friend teaches friend when parents are not available then teaches family members at home.
TEACH SIMPLE INEXPENSIVE DENTAL CARE FOR CHILDREN IN ORDER TO REDUCE FUTURE INFECTION AND WEAKENING OF THEIR WHOLE BODIES.
MOTTO: "TEACH A FEW TO TEACH MANY"
Teethsavers unique innovation is the Six Year Molar Focus.
Six year Molars are the cornerstones of the mouth. They do 65% to 70% of the adult chewing. Loss of even one of these vital
teeth causes the adjacent and opposing teeth to tilt and drift. The change in function leads to the inability to chew and
assimilate food properly. Declining health and shorter life span is the usual end result.
Teethsavers program and purpose is to help children who have less chance for good health and a longer productive life because
they are losing the teeth that help them chew and absorb their basic foods.
"Teaching Simple Skills and Hope to the next generation"
566 days of 2004 to 2007 in Chipata District, teaching and treating with teams of 16 to 24; graduates,
students, dental assistants and 25 volunteers; 3 dentists, 12 dental students, 10 non dental staying 2
weeks to 3 months from 5 countries. 74,459 children grades 1 to 4, taught and screened, 21,372 examined
and treated with 9,354 ART sealants, 9,538 ART restorations and 6,801 (31%) of those treated were for
periodontal (gum & bone) disease- cause is no oral hygiene. About 60% had hard calculus we removed by
scaling. 26,850 older children and 16,012 adults were only taught. Our equal emphasis: teaching mothers
to combine oral and body hygiene beginning at age three-months.
$1.40 is the average cost per child, both taught (75,459)and treated(21,372) at their school or village
and is about 1/3 the cost of a molar extraction at a government dental clinic. 98% of every donation goes to the teaching
and treating of the children.
Teethsavers Treatment Process:
|
| Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) Filling Procedure |
|
| The Teethsavers group of graduates, students, dental assistants and two volunteers with the school b |
THE ZAMBIA SIX-YEAR MOLAR FOCUS SCHOOL IN CHIPATA
The school is a six month course with graduates receiving a certificate as "Community Oral Health Educator (COHE)
and Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) Technologist".
Graduates are registered by the Medical Council of Zambia as are medical doctors, nurses and dentists.
Teethsavers, with the first-in-the-world school of its kind, has established a new category in oral health with the Six-Year
Molar Focus School. Up to 40% of the curriculum is non-dental and there is extensive practical teaching and treating in government
and community primary schools.
The first school was established in March 2003 by the founder of Teethsavers, its director, Dr. Jack Rudd DDS, FAGD.
|
| Small groups - teaching aids - demonstration - one-on-one |
|
| Parents encouraged to watch treatment |
|
| Gum disease discovered - concerned father looks on |
| Chipata, Zambia 2006 |
|
| Graduate Operators, Assistants, Students, Cook, Dental Therapists Lecturer |
|
| Four-handed Dentistry in Rural Schools- no electricity |
Teethsavers may be reached by clicking the link below:
teethsavers@teethsavers.org
|
