A group of faculty and current and former residents of the School of Dentistry at UT Health conducted a Special Needs Week clinic for patients in Guatemala in September. Care was delivered to 254 patients with developmental and acquired disabilities, including endodontic, oral surgical, periodontal, preventive and restorative care.
The work was delivered under the auspices of the Open Wide Foundation, which provides oral health care each year in five clinics in Guatemala, utilizing Guatemalan and U.S. care providers. The UT Health team worked in Peronia, approximately 30 miles from Guatemala City.
The UT Health group, all of whom are in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, included Alfonso Aguilera, D.D.S., assistant professor/clinical, Jeff Hicks, D.D.S., professor, Barbara MacNeill, D.M.D., assistant professor/clinical, and Luis Yepes, D.D.S., assistant professor/clinical. Also attending were current advanced education in general dentistry (AEGD) resident Laura Duhring, D.D.S., and Rebeka Andrade, D.D.S.,former AEGD resident from San Antonio.
The Special Needs Week care includes oral sedation and general anesthesia modalities as adjuncts to the oral health care and art therapy for patients. The Special Needs Week has been held for four years,
For more information, contact Dr. Hicks, hicksj@uthscsa.edu.