Project Description:

The sorry state of most villagers’ teeth, both in terms of caries and gingivitis, attest to the real need for low cost dental services, oral hygiene education and better nutrition. There are various reasons for the deteriorated condition of people’s teeth. The reasons include:

1) Their level of poverty which prevents people from seeking standard dental care which is expensive, although readily available, in both Taxco and Buenavista, towns that are one-hour drive away.

2) A general lack of knowledge about care of the mouth and teeth, with whole families very frequently not brushing their teeth at all or with any regularity. This personal care habit somehow disappeared over the generations. Many families still do not own any type of purchased (or traditional) toothbrushes or toothpaste. A reasonable quality toothbrush costs between 30-40 pesos, much more than many adults earn in a day.

3) Increased urban and television influence over the past decade has led to rapid changes in daily food habits with decreasing greens and seeds gathered in the forests, and increasing levels of purchased junk food with higher sugar content and frequency, particularly among children and adolescents.

4) Chronic exposure to low level of toxic metals (lead, arsenic and others) from water, soil and palm dyes which weakens enamel formation in utero. 

In 2007, Atzin opened a small dental clinic in a rented two room building after finishing walls, painting, installing electricity and tiling the floor. A certified dentist from Mexico City provided dental and educative oral health services for 1.5 years and also trained a woman from Tlamacazapa, Berta Garcia Castro, to work as a dental assistant and oral health educator. The assistant is now able to do simple assessments, cleanings, suture removal, instrument care and importantly, oral hygiene education classroom by classroom in the schools and in the Tihueliske Education Program.

The program was an immediate success with waiting lists of people to be attended. The program had a double focus: preventative education about oral hygiene, and the provision of basic dental services (extractions, cleaning, fillings with resin). False teeth (dental prosthesis) were gradually introduced once a payment scheme was put in place but was not a priority service. The fees-for-service to be paid by adults and youth were deliberately keep very low or at cost or free (for impoverished elderly), and all children under 13 years old were seen for free for all basic work/ services. 

The dentist left the position for personal reasons. The task of finding a replacement dentist took months because of the difficulty of the dental work, the travelling distance, a relatively low daily payment, and the lack of running water. Fortunately, a recent graduate in 2008, living in Taxco, has been contracted to work four days per week, a total of 16 days per month and will start her orientation in December 2009, and will provide services in January 2010.

Update from the field: November 2011

Click here for the update

Click here for an excerpt from the new children’s activity book by Atzin

Update from the field: May 2010

So far this year, we have drafted, tested and finalized the different clinic reporting forms so that it is now possible to analyze the number, gender, barrio and age group of patients, the treatment/services provided each month, and the amount of cash income for services rendered as well as expenditures for dental materials and payments to personnel.  Due to her continuing studies, the dentist contracted in January had to withdraw from the program in mid April, and a new dentist, also from Taxco, was located and will start in June. Dr. Erick will work a total of thirteen days per month. The two dental promoters, Berta and Yolanda, continue.