Surprising Results

I knew coming here that we would find a problem. I was sure that people had cavities and that they needed to brush. But after more than 2 weeks of screening and research I have been blown away by the findings. The people here are terribly sick because of their bad teeth. Not like a cold or a cough, they are in need of urgent care. If we were in the states they would be on iv antibiotics and sedated. This is a MAJOR global health concern. An epidemic.

We’ve been calling this the Masked Infection because people are running around seemingly happy on the outside yet sick and hurting on the inside. Britt truly believes that oral health is an infectious disease and that people’s oral condition is hurting their systemic health. And she’s truly got me on board. These people have such decayed teeth that the nerves themselves are showing! Can you imagine chewing on an open nerve multiple times a day for the rest of your life? Just the pain itself can break down the body.
It is proven that the effects of prolonged exposure to pain can hinder long term functions and raise cardiovascular risks long term.

Britt has been using a number system (0,1,2) to classify the people she is screening. This is a common practice in dental research I’m told. A 0 means there are no urgent problems, plaque build up etc. falls under a 0. A 1 refers to a pressing issue that is not currently an emergency but will turn into one if no action is taken. A 2 means urgent care is necessary. Rush them to the hospital.

With this system, Britt has found shocking results. 47% of a 148 child sampling was listed as a 2, and 36% were a 1. But with their environment and track record, the majority of the children in the 1 category will be a 2 in a very short amount of time. That means that 83% of the people in this region are in need of serious attention and are hurting their quality of life everyday that this continues.

It so sad to feel like there is nothing that can be done, but the fact is that this stuff takes time. It’s too much for one dentist at one time. There needs to be a movement in order to prevent this from happening. Those who are already affected are in the category of “Too Late”. All that can be done is prevention for the next generation. This is a career long effort that Britt has begun, and I’m so excited to be part of it. These people need her. Smile and all.



Andrew