Dentistry may not be the first medical profession that comes to mind when you think of humanitarian work. You may think of surgeons, oncologists, or immunologists working in underdeveloped communities. However, the essential services that dentists provide have changed countless lives around the world for the better.
Underrated
Dental health is unfortunately one of the more underrated and underappreciated fields in the medical industry. In Canada, where Dr. Louis Bourget practices, approximately one-third of Canadians had not visited a dentist in the past 12 months, according to a Canadian Community Health Survey, and one in three Canadians reported not having dental insurance. These two statistics are obviously related. When people cannot afford dental services and the government does not cover them, far fewer people are likely to seek these services out. This is critical. Not only do dentists and oral surgeons like maxillofacial surgeons provide corrective treatments and surgeries, but practitioners in oral and dental health are also trained to look out for the over 100 conditions that can show symptoms in the mouth. In this way, dentists and other practitioners are like first responders for preventative treatments.
Underfunded
In many corners of the world, access to basic healthcare remains a dream, according to the Bourget Foundation, which provides services to underserved communities around the world. In Nova Scotia where Dr. Bourget practices, coverage for basic dental care is only offered for children under 14 years of age, with medical exemptions. “Oral healthcare is mandated by the provinces and territories in Canada,” says Dr. Bourget, “and only the necessities are covered for specific populations, with some exceptions. This leaves a large gap in accessibility for Canadians without private coverage.” Notably lacking access to dental healthcare in Canada are at least 250,000 homeless people. Charities like the Ottawa Mission Dental Clinic aim to fill in that accessibility gap by providing basic dental services to those without permanent shelter.
Many more communities worldwide have little to no dental coverage at all. This is where the humanitarians come in. Charitable organizations like Operation Smile use donations to offer maxillofacial reconstruction surgeries to children with cleft lips and palates around the world. “This is life-saving work because children born with clefts are more likely to die young from tooth decay, among other complications,” explains Dr. Bourget. Another notable charity, Smile Train, offers financial support for struggling families to gain access to lifesaving cleft operations and supports.
Dangers of No Dental Care
Dentists do a lot more than fillings and cleanings. As previously mentioned, dentists and oral surgeons can often be the first to see symptoms of over a hundred diseases. And, as Dr. Bourget says, “dentists are often our first line of defense in early diagnostics” for diseases such as anemia, diabetes, some cancers, and HIV.
For people who fall between the cracks or cannot access dental care, the absence of these preventative treatments can lead to severe outcomes. “Even basic dental care like fillings and cleanings are important as preventative measures for further complications like gum disease, abscesses, and tooth decay.”
Our teeth aren’t ‘luxury bones’ as many like to call them. Putting aside the fact that teeth are not bones – “they’re actually made of enamel, dentin, cementum, and pulp” – having healthy teeth should not be a luxury. Infections can lead to death in severe cases. And the most vulnerable of us already struggle with finding enough food to survive, let alone trying to eat without healthy teeth.
Compassion
Ultimately, it comes down to compassion and the drive to help your community and others across the world that drives practitioners to open up their practices to philanthropy. “Using your expertise to help the most vulnerable of us, no matter what your field of expertise is in – it draws you back to the reason you likely entered medicine in the first place,” says Dr. Bourget. “To help others.” Expanding that aid around the world is a desperately underfilled service. But there will always be practitioners who, like Dr. Bourget, approach their practices from a place of understanding and empathy for our fellow human beings, who will always strive to make the world a healthier, safer, and overall better place.
