Dr. Amul Patel’s 14th Dental Mission
Transforming 1,200 Smiles in 6 Days in Arusha, Tanzania
On July 4, 2024, Dr. Amul Patel is off on the mission of a lifetime—the fourteenth in his dental mission journey, this time to Arusha, Tanzania. With a dedicated team of six people consisting of dentists and dental assistants based in the United States and three dentists from Tanzania, Dr. Amul Patel saw to it that he tackled the oral health needs of as many as 1,200 patients in six hectic yet rewarding days. The team offered a wide range of treatments, from simple extractions and cosmetic bondings to complex root canals and dentures; such much-needed care in any community that had little or no dental services was well supplied by the aid given by these missions.
Why Dental Missions for Underserved Communities are Important?
Today, millions around the world as well as in distant and rural areas still suffer from access to quality dental care. Many regions, such as those in Arusha, Tanzania, do not have treatments available, or improper dental services cause the rampant existence of untreated dental problems.
For Dr. Amul Patel and his Aurora Smiles team, dental missions are not just about short-term relief—they are about creating lasting, positive changes in health and well-being. By addressing the urgent needs of these patients, the team also aims to impart knowledge about oral hygiene practices, ensuring long-term benefits for the communities they serve.
A Collaboration between the US and Tanzania Teams
The dental mission conducted by Dr. Amul Patel in Arusha was made possible through the collaboration of professionals from the United States with their Tanzanian counterparts. The six-member team consisted of US dentists and dental assistants who arrived with rich experience in all branches of dental care, oral surgery, cosmetic dentistry, and, or root canal therapy. Accompanying them were three dentist in Tanzanian providing essential information on the specific dental challenges likely to be faced within the community while helping out to smoothen most of the communication that bore a relationship with the patients.
The teamwork between the American and Tanzanian teams really worked to the mission’s fruition. They were a team that was working towards achieving objectives and with mutual support, where both teams would utilize each party’s strengths in their best capacity to treat as many patients as possible while maintaining quality care. Additionally, it helped Tanzanian dentists acquire skills in newer techniques from their US counterparts that would make dental care more sustainable in that area.
Treating 1,200 Patients in Six Days: A Herculean Task
Treatment of 1,200 patients in just six days is, in itself, an achievement, demanding thoughtful planning, coordination, and dedication. From daybreak every day when the office opened its doors, patients were lined up through the day, even for months. For others, this mission would serve as their first opportunity to be dealt with by professional dental care.