Missions

SURGICAL TEAM:

January 31-February 7, 2015

Location: Shalom Foundation Moore Pediatric Surgery Center in Guatemala City, Guatemala

Team members:
Surgeons: Jed Bindrup and Steve Warnock,
Anesthesiologists: Alan Patterson and Thayne Wilson
Pediatrician: Jeremy Kendrick
Dentist: Ken Patterson
RN’s: Heather Anderson, Karen Cardoza, Lamon Mack, Sharla Morgan, Sandra
Mangum, Amy Musselman, Julie Musselman, Linda Poulsen, Laura Rothe, Margaret Taylor
Support: Ann Bindrup, Rebecca Kendrick, Natalie Meadows, Jean Patterson, Ally
Roberts, Melissa Warnock, Lola Dawn Wilson
Statistics: 62 patients, 83 procedures 31 of which were cleft related. 15 patients had dental procedures in addition to their surgeries. Procedures included: primary unilateral and bilateral cleft lip repairs, cleft lip revisions, nasolabial fistula repairs, primary cleft palate repairs, microtia repairs, canthoplasty, scar revisions, tonsillectomies, burn scar revisions, rhinoplasties, soft tumor mass excisions, pre-auricular skin tag removal, frenulectomies, excisions of cysts, syndactyly repairs, and otoplasties.

The team also provided humanitarian supplies that included blankets, clothing, and toys for the children.

KATHY ROSS DENTAL TEAM:

February 27-March 7 Guatemala

Location: Village of San Miguel near Quetzaltenango Guatemala

Team members: Dr. Larry Braithwaite, Wanda and Alan Corbridge, Dr. Lance Crowther, Kade and Natalie Crowther, Dr. Theron Crowther, Cassidy Fraker, Malana Hansen, Justine Holman, Dr. Bruce Howell, Brette Martinez, Dr. Dan Ormsby, Dr. Glean and Garret Payne, Rebekah Reid, Kathy Ross, Dr. Grant and Jake Stucki, Dr. Nick Young, Laura and Kevin Brewer.

Statistics: 719 patients, 1,108 extractions, 244 restorations

The team also gave families tooth brushes, toothpaste, oral hygiene instructions, blankets, clothing, and toys.

DR. NATE LESTER DENTAL TEAM:

March 5-14, 2015

Team Members: Chris Allred, Jessica Allred, Jamie Cassinat, Kraig r Ford. Brenda Ford, Tyler Gundersen, Mark Johnson, Kammi Johnson, Connor Johnson, Rae Llynn Kohler, Craig Lester, Nate Lester, Kristie Lester, Sam Lester, Lylie Platz, Dave Prince, Angie Prince, Sammi Prince, Jacqueline Schofield, Elmo Smith, Abbie Warde

Locations: Hermanas de Maria Villa de las Ninas- an orphanage in Guatemala City, Momostenango, Las Nubes, Santa Inez, orphanage near Quetzaltenango.

Statistics: 436 patients, 275 Fillings, 631 extractions plus fluoride treatments,provided toothbrushes, tooth paste and oral hygiene instruction.

Humanitarian efforts: Distributed white shirts and ties to LDS missionaries, built chicken coops, and tables for schools.

DR. GLEN DEAN DENTAL TEAM:

March 5-15, 2015

Location: Hospitalito Santiago de Atitlan, Solola, Guatemala

Team Members: Dr.Glen Dean, Dr. Cam Quayle, Mandee Quayle, Dr. Marcus Pope, Turia Pope, Dr. Jake Martineau, Dr. John Wood, Logan Wood, Shiloh White, Michelle De La Torre, Cimmy Starr, Lindsey Marsden, Skylar Marsden, Missy Woolsey, Scott Christensen, and Teresa Christensen. On this trip we had two pediatric dentists, three general dentists, two coordinators and nine dental assistants.
We had two Guatemalan nurses that were to be trained as dental assistants. The Guatemalans all spoke Spanish and T’zutuil–THE ASSISTANTS WERE INVALUABLE WITH THE MAYAN SPEAKING PATIENTS.
Statistics:
Patients Seen 102
Patients without caries 1
Oral Hygiene Instructions 102 persons

Procedure Quantity Value
Composite fillings 669               $143,166.00
Extractions 210                          $34,020.00
Root Canals 3                            $2,220.00
Stainless Steel Crowns 260       $80,600.00
Pulpotomies 50                          $10,000.00
x-rays 408                                  $10,200.00
Deep Scaling 21                         $7,182.00
Exams 102                                 $5,444.00
Prophy 74                                   $4,933.00
Hospital OR cases 7                   $799.00

Total of donated dental services $297,996.00
Humanitarian efforts: We delivered 250 white shirts to the Mormon Missionaries who are native Central Americans. We gave dental equipment, materials and instruments to the Guatemalan Dental Student before and after the mission. This was to help him with a service project plus help him set up a practice. We also gave him soccer balls for a service project. We gave a 2 note pads to ADISA. ADISA is a school for “special needs” persons. We paid for a denture for Rosario Ajuchan Ixbalan. We brought stuffed animals, blankets and dental hygiene kits that were part of eagle scout projects. We made contact with a group of Guatemalan Dentists who will help us on our next jornada.

DR. GLEN DEAN DENTAL TEAM

August 6-16. 2015

Location: Hospitalito Santiago de Atitlan, Solola, Guatemala

Team Members from the USA: Dr. Glen Dean, Dr. Jeremy John, Dr. Kristy Rogers, Liz Torres, John Starkweather, Xitali Gomez, Eric Lopez,Mary White, Cimmy Starr, Sandra Gutierrez, Daphne Snarr, and Haley Snarr.

On this trip we had three pediatric dentists, two coordinators and seven dental assistants. We also had four Guatemalan Dentists and five Guatemalan dental assistants. The Guatemalan dental assistants spoke T’zutuil as well as Spanish. We had one Guatemalan nurse that was to be trained as a dental assistant. She also spoke Spanish and T’zutuil–THE ASSISTANTS WERE INVALUABLE WITH THE MAYAN SPEAKING PATIENTS.
Statistics:
Patients Seen 115
Patients without caries 1
Oral Hygiene Instructions 150 persons

Procedure Quantity Value
Exams 115                                              $5,290.00
Composite fillings 746                             $159,644.00
Amalgam fillings 47                                 $10,058.00
Extractions 255                                       $41,310.00
Apecoectomy 1                                       $755.00
Stainless Steel Crowns 255                    $79,050.00
Pulpotomies 40                                       $8,000.00
X-rays 470                                               $11,750.00
Deep Scaling 19                                      $12,996.00
Fissure Sealants 198                               $10,098.00
Hospital OR cases 9                                $3,294.00
Total of donated dental services              $342,245.00

Surgical Team:

Surgical Team Mission- January 23 to February 1, 2014

Location: Shalom Foundation-Moore Pediatric Surgery Center, Guatemala City, Guatemala

Advance Team: A team of four arrived on the 23rd so they could go to Huehuetenango to visit two hospitals which we might be able to use for missions in subsequent years. One was a national hospital, the other a private hospital. Neither could meet our expectations primarily because of not being able to provide post-op follow up care which would be needed. While in the Huehuetenango area, the team screened several children for surgery to be done in Guatemala City. Antonio Salgurero made all arrangements for the team.

The rest of the team arrived on January 26th. We screened 77 children on January 28th and set up the operating rooms. Starting the 29th we had four very busy and rewarding surgical days, performing 53 surgical procedures on 50 patients. Surgeons were Faizi Siddiqi and Ross Blagg- Team 1 and Barbu Gociman-Team 2. Anesthesiologists were Alan R. Patterson, Thayne Wilson, and Michelle Bowlen. Team 1 nurses were Liz Fuller and Jennifer Taylor. Team 2 nurses were Laura Rothe, Sharla Morgan, and Linda Howard. PACU nurses were Julie and Amy Musselman and Krista Bott. Post-op nurses were Margaret Taylor and Wanda Corbridge. Pre-op Nurse was Karen Cardoza, Pediatrician, Moreno Robins and coordinators, Sandi Mangum and Jean Patterson (records). Volunteers were Will Jones, Steve and Karen Mc Arthur and Lola Dawn Wilson. We were fortunate to have a senior pharmacy student from Tennessee, Emily Loveless as part of our team.

The Moore Pediatric Surgery Center is a wonderful facility, fully staffed with excellently trained personnel and modern in construction and equipment. We worked very well with center staff and thoroughly enjoyed the week. We have requested that we be able to return to the center during 2015. We will be able to bring three teams and will need fewer ancillary people because the staff at the center is more than adequate in number and training. We commend the Shalom Foundation (Allison Bender), the Moore Pediatric Surgery Center (Maria Jose de Gallardo, Administrator, Dra. Ligia Figueroa, Medical Director, and staff for their cooperation to complete a rewarding and successful mission in 2014.

Hirsche Homes:

January 29, 2014: Will Jones, Steve McArthur, and Antonio Salguero left the surgical team in Guatemala City and traveled to the Escuintla area to build and revise several homes for needy families. They accomplished a lot of good work in just one day. A few days before the trip, Antonio had purchased supplies and enlisted local volunteers to assist in the work.

Nate Lester and Kathy Ross Dental Team:

March 7-15, 2014

Locations near Guatemala City, test coast of Guatemala, and Quetzaltenango.

Team consisted of the following volunteers from Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming:
Dentists: Lance Crowther, Theran Crowther, Kraig Ford, Mark Johnson, Nate Lester, Dave Prince, Nathan Tolman
Assistants: Jennifer Cook, Sara Cottrell, Brenda Ford, Justine Holman, Kammi Johnson, Shari Jolley, Angie Prince, Kathy Ross, Colleen Thomas, Satina Tolman
Hygienists: Ashlee Oliver, Kylie Platz
Humanitarian Team: Craig Lester, Kristie Lester, Allison Smith, Elmo Smith

Statistics: 930 people were examined, 1769 extractions, 179 fillings.
Villages where the work was done: Mixco, Chita, San Juyup, Chirijox, Alaska.

Trip Summary: Saturday the team worked in Mixco, near Guatemala City. The project was organized by a young woman from the LDS Church and community leaders. The HSF dental team treated 46 people doing 46 fillings and 27 extractions. Many of the young people had big cavities on their front teeth. We were able to give them a beautiful smile. Monday and Tuesday, the team worked in Chita and San Juyup, near the west coast of Guatemala. The team in San Juyup worked in a school and were able to do extractions and fillings. The Chita team had to climb a steep hill carrying all of their equipment to a community center. They were only able to do extractions. Most of the people being treated were in pain because of the decay and damage in their mouths. One young lady had not been able to eat for a week because the pain in her mouth was too intense. Every tooth was abscessed, decayed, and rotten. Dr. Lester did a full mouth extraction and the girl and her mother were very pleased with the results. Early Wednesday morning the team traveled to the Quetzaltenango to work in the nearby mountainous villages of Chirijox, Xetinamit, and Alaska. One little girl had so much work to be done that the team did half of the work one day and had her come back the next day to do the other half of her mouth. The humanitarian team worked at the Mayan EcoHomestead to complete a home for the caretaker of the facility. The Mayan EcoHomestead teaches the local people how to grow food and create meals that will give them more balanced nutrition. The team traveled back to Guatemala City on Friday and flew homes on Saturday. It was a very successful mission which brought hope and a better smile to 930 people in Guatemala.

Glen Dean Dental Team:

Dental Team of Glen R. Dean March 14, 2014-March 23, 2014

Location: Hospitalito Santiago de Atitlan, Solola, Guatemala

Please visit the Dean Team facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hospitalito-Atitl%C3%A1n/230704430311518

Summary: The team took care of 57 patients. They did 9 general anesthesia cases, trained six Guatemalans to work as dental assistants, delivered 525 white shirts to the Mormon Missionaries who are native Central American, gave dental materials and instruments to the Guatemalan Dental Student at the end of our mission. and gave a six note pads to the dental assistants. They met with care takers at the ADISA school for those with “special needs” about Fluoride Varnish and its usages in preventing caries. The team also discussed oral care for these physically challenged patients dentistry. Eagle Scout Avery Atzbach of Troop 525, Pine Creek Ward in Colorado Springs made baby blankets for HA as his project. He and friends donated 152 beautiful blankets that will be given to new babies and also the little ones who come for cleft lip surgery.

Team members were from Colorado and Utah- Pediatric Dentists: Glen Dean, Derek Kirkham; General Dentist: James Moore; Dental Hygienist: Sharina Simpson; Dental Assistants: Katie Collins, Dani Kirkham, Daylee Kirkham, Viola Montoya, Cimmy Starr, Ciara Star; Coordinator/Humanitarian: Richard Parrish. All team members were from Colorado. We had six Guatemalan dental assistants. The Guatemalans all spoke Spanish and T’zutuil–THE ASSISTANTS WERE INVALUABLE WITH THE MAYAN SPEAKING PATIENTS.

The team donated services worth $177,194 if done in the USA. Statistics are as follows. 57 patients examined, 6 Patients without caries, 45 people received oral hygiene instructions, 318 composite fillings, 9 amalgam fillings, 85 extractions, 1 root canal, 99 stainless steel crowns, 15 pulpotomies, 307 x-rays, 5 deep scalings, 57 prophy, 58 fissure sealants, 9 hospital operating room cases.

Glen Dean Dental Team:

Dental Team of Glen R. Dean August 14-24, 2014

Location: Hospitalito Santiago de Atitlan, Solola, Guatemala

Team members: Pediatric Dentists – Glen Dean and Barney Olsen; General Dentist-Earl Young; Dental Assistants-Chelsea Olsen, Floy Young, Chuck Johnson, Laura Whitehead, Mary White, Shiloh White, and Cimmy Star; Dental Hygienists- Catalina Johnson and Katie Teller; Pre-Dental Student-Brant Whitehead. We also trained six Guatemalan dental assistants. The Guatemalans all spoke Spanish and T’zutuil–THE ASSISTANTS WERE INVALUABLE WITH THE MAYAN SPEAKING PATIENTS.

Trip Summary: The team saw 58 patients two of which were done under general anesthesia. In addition to the procedures listed below, the team met with care takers at the ADISA school for those with “special needs” about Fluoride Varnish and its usages in preventing caries. We also discussed oral care for these physically challenged patients dentistry. They delivered 633 white shirts to the Mormon Missionaries who are native Central Americans. They gave dental materials and instruments to the Guatemalan Dental Student at the end of our mission and 4 note pads to ADISA.

Statistics: 58 Patients were examined, 8 patients did not have caries, were gave oral hygiene instructions to 49 persons.
Procedures done were as follows: 318 composite fillings, 9 amalgam fillings, 85 extractions, 99 stainless steel crowns, 15 pulpectomies, 307 X-rays, 5 deep scalings, 58 examinations, 37 prophylactic treatments, and 2 hospital OR cases.
The total of donated dental services was $193,190.

Surgical Team:

February 2013 found us back at the Fundacion Pediatrica Guatemalteca in Guatemala City. The team led by Dr. Alan Patterson and Sandra Mangum, consisted of 4 surgeons, 4 anesthesiologists,3 operating room teams, 1 pediatrician, 4 nurses in Recovery Room, 3 nurses providing pre or post-operative care and education to the patients and their families, a pharmacist, a photographer, a records keeper, and additional support people. We helped 73 patients who underwent 96 procedures. 16 were cleft lip, 30 cleft palate, 12 microtia reconstruction (to correct ear deformities) and other such as syndatyle (fused fingers or toes), polydactyle (extra fingers or toes), burn scar releases, cyst or keloid excisions, and tongue tie releases.

We have significantly increased our capacity to do complex procedures safely and with excellent results. This year we were able to perfom LefortI advancement and palate conversion to Furlow case on a 22 year old young woman who was born with a cleft palate and a very misaligned jaw which became worse over time. She did not talk well and could not open her mouth or chew food. She now has a life, goes out in public and feels good about how she looks. Most of all ,she eats easily and talks quite well. Krista sent her love and appreciation to just a few months ago. “It is me, Krista Rosales a woman who wanted many things in this life that were unattainable. I had surgery so that I might be accepted in a world full of ignorant people where the only thing they know is to make fun of people who are not perfect. Meanwhile good people like my surgeon, with beautiful hands, talented doctors and nurses with a great deal of wisdom and noble hearts, helped my dreams come true. Who are they? They are my angels, put in my path by God. There is no way to thank you for what you have done for me. All I can do is to pray tirelessly for a life full of blessings for each of them and their beautiful families.”

Dental Teams:

Utah/Wyoming Teams: Dr. Nathan Lester and Dr. Dave Prince led a team in March. Dr. Payne and Kathy Ross led a team in September.
Our March team connected with a village that had been displaced by a landslide and had significant needs in many areas. While some of the team provided dental services for the village, another part of the team spent time building a chicken coop. This was rewarding because we were able to help them have healthier chickens, and thus more adequate food resources. They could be more self-reliant and healthy because of this small service we were able to provide.
The mobility of our teams is a great asset that allows us to provide access to dental care where it would otherwise not be available. We stayed in the town of Panajachel and traveled to the villages of La Victoria, Chuti-estancia, San Andres Semetabaj, Chiuntinamit, and Cujuyuv. We were fortunate to have a great network of local contacts, local leaders and social workers in these villages who organized and aided in our volunteer efforts. Overall, we treated close to 800 people with 1234 extractions, 331 fillings, and other advanced services.

Another highlight of the March trip was the unity of our group. We had an amazing team whose first desire was to serve the people of Guatemala. Our guide had arranged for us to visit a market for souvenirs on Thursday, but we had a long line of people as the time to leave got close. As a group we made the decision to stay and see everyone who had a dental need that day. We were the ones to leave that day much better for the interaction that we had with the beautiful, humble, and gracious people of Guatemala.

Colorado Teams: Dr. Glen Dean of Grand Junction, Colorado partnered with Hirsche Smiles Foundation and lead two teams this year. He reported the mission of Aug 15-26, 2013.
“We had two pediatric dentists, one periodontist, one newspaper reporter, two family members who helped everywhere and six dental assistants. We had seven Guatemalan dental assistants. The Guatemalans all spoke Spanish and T’zutuil. THE ASSISTANTS WERE INVALUABLE WITH THE MAYAN SPEAKING PATIENTS. We met with care takers at the ADISA school for those with “special needs” about Fluoride Varnish and its usages in preventing caries. We also discussed oral care for these physically challenged patients.

We took care of 69 patients. Only 4 did not have cavities. We instructed 78 in oral hygiene.
If we were to put a value is US dollars of the work we did it would be: $173,630.00 The procedures were as follows: 154 extractions, 74 stainless steel crowns, 17 pulpotomies, 312 s-rays,18 deep scalings, 69 exams, 69 prophylaxis treatments, 85 fissure sealants, and 8 hospital operating room cases.

The Home Construction Group (Hirsche Homes):

The team, led by Will Jones, traveled to Guatemala in November. They built a house and kitchen for a poor family on the south coast. They traveled to Quiche and built a house for another very poor family. In Nahuala the team helped 4 families to build a new roof and kitchen, another room and chicken coops. In Quetzaltenango the team built a house, fixed up two houses and bought food for 3 families, . They also bought land for very poor family. Back in Guatemala City, the team helped 2 missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who needed shoes and clothing to enter the Missionary Training Center the next day.

Note of Gratitude: from Antonio Salguero, our in-country contact: “The entire country is getting to know of the good done by all of the Hirsche Smiles Foundation teams. Also, our relationship with the congressman Julio Lopez from Huehuetenango is excellent because of the good and lasting impression of all of our teams who assist the poor and needy in Guatemala.”

Surgical Team: The surgical team traveled to Retalhuleu to work at the Hospital Nacioñal de Retalhuleu. We screened 77 patients and were able to perform surgeries on 50 people, as follows:
48 Primary cleft lip, primary cleft palate, lip and palate, or lip revisions
9 Frenulectomies for children that were tongue-tied
1 Rhinoplasty/septoplasty
1 debulking of a venous malformation of the upper lip
1 excision of a lipoma on left forehead

We were pleased that all of our patients tolerated their procedures well and will have a more normal life as a result of our efforts. We are grateful to the members of the team who paid their own airfare and lodging as well as their time away from family and work. We are also appreciative to Smile Train for the grant we received from them and
all of our other contributors who helped finance the trip with their donations.

See our blog for more details of the mission.

 

Surgical Team: The surgical team traveled to Retalhuleu for the first time to work at the Hospital Nacioñal de Retalhuleu. We screened 56 patients and were able to perform surgeries on 46 people, as follows:
11 Primary cleft lip repairs
10 Primary cleft palate repairs
8 Cleft lip revisions
3 Cleft palate revisions
11 Fistula repairs
7 Frenulectomies on tongue-tied children
3 Revisions of burn scars on hads
4 Ear reconstructions for children with microtia
1 Rhinoplasty
3 Facial plastic surgery for scars due to injuries

We enjoyed working in Retalhuleu and found the hospital administration and staff to be very helpful and contributed greatly to the success of our mission. We can happily report that all of our patients tolerated their procedures well and were able to return home with a new smile.

 

 

Surgical Team: In February, the surgical team worked at the Hospital Nino Jesus in Guatemala City and was hosted by the Pediatric Foundation of Guatemala with assistance from  Fundacion Internacional Para Ninos. Volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints assisted in finding patients and providing translation help for patients who do not speak English or Spanish. Some families only speak a dialect called Kikchi or Quiche. A trip to Mexico is planned in September.

Dental Team: Three dental teams will again return to several areas of Guatemala.  Dates are interspersed throughout the year so that more children can be helped.   The first dental team of 18 just returned to the US following a successful mission to the Chiquimula area of Guatemala.

 

 

August 2009

Humanitarian/Dental Team:

The humanitarian group brought down about four suitcases of humanitarian supplies which were donated by the Grand Junction Colorado West Stake Primary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon).  Some of these supplies were taken to the Quezaltenango area of Guatemala and were given to  directors of the Aldea and Escuela Oficial Urbana Mixta de Educacion Especial “Xelaju”–the special needs school—to distribute as needed.  We also gave some items to Hogar Del Nino Minusvalido and Hermano Perdro orphanage. Hermano Pedro is an orphanage run by the Catholic Church which has children and adults with special needs. The team toured several cities in Guatemala (guatemala city, Quetzaltenango, Panajachel, Solola, Santiago de Atitlan) with the goal of finding areas with dental needs as well as adequate facilities that could be available for HSF dentists to work in.  The team consisted of  Dr. Glen R. Dean, Kelly Summers, Al Hymas, Don Cleveland, Richard Parrish, and Harold Davis all from Grand Junction, Colorado.

The dental team consisted of Dr. Glen R. Dean, Judy Melchor, Melissa Malott, and Cimmy Star of Grand Junction, Colorado.  They worked in an orphanage in Quezaltenango.They examined 39 people whose ages ranged from 1 to 64, 31 of which were under the age of 20.  All 39 patients received exams, oral hygiene, and x-rays. The dental team provided the following to these patients:  106 white fillings, 58 stainless steel crowns and 54 extractions, and 6 pulp therapies.

Both groups were assisted by Antonio Salguero of Guatemala.

Surgical Team: Our team, consisting of 13 medical volunteers returned to Boca del Rio and Veracruz, Mexico. HSF was hosted by DIF of Boca del Rio and worked at the ISSSTE hospital in Veracruz. We selected 23  patients for surgery and performed 29 procedures which included cleft lip and cleft palate repairs, burn scar contracture releases, frenulectomies, first and second stage microtia repairs, rhinoplasties, and canthalpexies.

May 2009

Surgical Team: Our team returned to Guatemala City. The team worked at the Pediatric Foundation of Guatemala’s Hospital Nino Jesus. Hirsche Smiles Foundation was assisted by Fundacion Internacional para Ninos which is under the direction of Naomi Bronstein. HSF performed operations on 42 needy children.  32 of the procedures were cleft lip or cleft palate related repairs.  Other procedures included frenulectomies (tongue-tied), burn scar releases, removal of extra fingers and toes, releases of syndactyly (webbed fingers or toes), and otoplasty.

April 2009

Dental Team:The team consisted of only 6 people and a different model was employed.  On this trip, we partnered with IGUATE, the government sponsored tourist program that provides transportation and protective activities to foster development and service, as well as the children’s foundation (Fundacion de Desnutrition de los Ninos) through Antonio Salguero. We visited three locations, working approximately two days in each, thus attempting to minimize the set up and take down time.The three locations in which care was provided were: Puerto San Jose, Masatenago, and Queteltenago.

Care was focused on permanent dentition, relief of pain, retention of permanent dentition, and stabilization of the disease process.  We attempted to see all the patients we could, at least for an assessment and any interceptive therapy deemed necessary. Advanced care (root canals, advanced restorative care) was focused on youth and anterior teeth. The following care was accomplished:

• Total patients seen = 351
• Restorations placed = 298
• Extractions (including 3rd molars) = 339
• Root canals (anterior teeth) = 7
• Sealants = 63
• Fluoride Varnish and prevention counseling = 38
• Adult cleanings = 10
• X-Rays = 24

February 2009

Dental Team: In association with Asorech in Guatemala, the Utah Dental Chapter™ of the Hirsche Smiles Foundation completed a highly successful 9 day service project February 13 through February 22. Success was again measured in the amount of care provided to patients, the operational smoothness of the logistics, and camaraderie developed between the team members during the trip.

Over seven hundred and 15 patients (totals do not include the final day of treatment at the Church) received a total of 986 extractions, 377 restorations (primarily in maxillary anterior and permanent molars), 17 sealants, 11 periodontal cleanings and assorted other clinical care. The dollar value of this diagnostic and clinical care, based on conservative Colorado fees, was approximately $260,000.

October 2008

Surgical Team: HSFs surgical team went to Boca del Rio, Veracruz, Mexico. HSF was sponsored by mayor’s office and a government agency called DIF. Dr. Charles H. Stewart of Provo, Utah (DRSTEWARTMD.com) was our plastic surgeon, Alan R. Patterson was the anesthesiologist, and our team leader was Sandra S. Mangum. We performed 31 procedures on 24 patients. 14 cases were cleft-related.

September 2008

Dental Services: HSF dental team returned to Guatemala. The mission leader was Dr. Richard Call from the Denver area. The team was composed of 8 dentist and 8 dental assistants. 552 patients received direct care and hundreds more received screening, dental health education, and oral health materials. Patients receiving direct services were primarily affiliated with the Chorti Indian tribe living in rural isolated mountainous regions of Chiquimula and Zacapa in Eastern Guatemala. Patients able to get to the public hospital in Chiquimula for an intensive one day service project (approximately 120 patients were seen on a Sunday afternoon). Five hundred and fifty-two patients received a total of 850 extractions, 365 restorations (primarily in maxillary anterior and permanent molars), 58 sealants, 85 topical fluoride varnish treatments and assorted other clinical care. The dollar value of this diagnostic and clinical care, based on conservative Colorado fees, was approximately $221,500.

February 2008

Surgical Team: Our team of 24 returned to Guatemala City and worked at the new Hospital Nino Jesus that is operated by the Pediatric Foundation of Guatemala. Our surgeons were Faizi Siddiqi (www.utahplasticsurgery.org), Steven H. Warnock (drstevenwarnock.com,) Galen Perdikis, and Larry Leonard. Anesthesiologists were Alan R. Patterson, C. Thayne Wilson, and Michael Taylor. We performed 60 procedures on 50 patients. 38 procedures were cleft lip or cleft palate related. Most of the funding for this trip was from The Smile Train and the Plastic Surgery Education Foundation. We greatly appreciated the funding we received from them.

October 2007

Surgical Team: A small surgical team of 12-14 people traveled to Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua, Mexico. The trip was sponsored by the Lion’s Club of Cuauhtemoc. Dr. Charles H. Stewart was our surgeon and Alan R. Patterson the anesthesiologist. We operated on 29 patients who had a wide variety of conditions that required plastic surgery.

September 2007

Dental Team: The team traveled to Guatemala City and then to the Chiquimulilla area. Two teams of 9 traveled in small 4-wheel drive vehicles to remote sites identified and prepared by Asorech, a community development organization (NGO). 681 patients received direct care and hundreds more received screening, dental health education, and oral health materials. Patients received 1,396 extractions, 170 restorations and assorted other clinical care. The dollar value of this diagnostic and clinical care, based on conservative Colorado fees, was $272,890.

January 2007

Surgical Team: Surgeons Faizi Siddiqi, Jed R. Bindrup, and Charles H. Stewart and anesthesiologists along with three complete OR teams and additional recovery room nurses went to Guatemala City. The trip was sponsored by HSF and The Fundacion Pediatrica de Guatemalteca. 54 children received surgical intervention. Two of the children needed complex surgeries and would have had to travel to the United States to receive help had our team not traveled to Guatemala.

November 2006-Dr. Charles Stewart and team went to Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua, Mexico. This is the first time we operated on children with microtia- (a deformity of the outer ear). This is quite an involved operation and consists of taking cartilage from a rib, fashioning an ear out of the cartilage and inserting the form of the ear under the skin where the ear should have been. The 2nd stage surgery willl be done next year. The child looked really great and was happy with his new look.

 

October 2006

Surgical Team: Our team returned to Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua, Mexico. For the first time, we were able to help children with microtia- a congenital deformity of the outer ear, as well as patients needing surgery for cleft lips and palates, and other conditions from injuries or birth defects. We performed 25 surgeries for patients who could not afford to pay local plastic surgeons to care for them.

February 2006

Dental and Surgical teams visited Guatemala with the largest number of volunteers yet. The Dental Team is now able to do dental restorations as well as extractions. Donations from local businesses allowed the team to purchase portable dental units and a hand-held x-ray machine. HSF was able to help more people than on previous trips.

October 2005

Surgical Team: Our team was accompanied to Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua, Mexico by Dr. Robert Rey (Dr. 90210) and a camera crew from the E! Entertainment television channel. Dr. Charles H. Stewart was assisted by Dr. Rey on the procedures that were performed. The TV episode that was filmed is still being broadcast on the E! Entertainment Channel.