Clinical dental care and education

The Physicians for Peace Dental Program began in 1996 with a dental mission led by Dr. Warren Sachs to Guatemala. Fourteen years later, the organization has sent multiple dental missions to Guatemala, as well as the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, Peru, Vietnam and Nicaragua.

Over the past 15 years Physicians for Peace has treated countless patients with severely limited access to dental care for Peace missions. More importantly, incountry dental professionals have received valuable education and training. Dr. Warren Sachs has unofficially taken the lead as the Physicians for Peace dental mission volunteer, guiding most of the missions and always keeping the greater picture in mind. As the program has developed, its focus has become more refined.

The Physicians for Peace Dental Program works to enhance dental faculty techniques, student skills, public dental clinic services, and preventive education for indigent patients. Through direct patient care, the dental team performs extractions and treats caries, as well as acute pulp and acute occlusive diseases. They also give instruction in oral hygiene, dietary counseling, caries prevention, and oral cancer screenings. In addition to patient care, the team provides lectures for the country's local dentists, bringing them updated techniques. The Dental Program has visited Peru, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Philippines, and Vietnam.