26Oct 2011 4th clinic day—Bantey Meanchey.

Our clinic today was at the Bantey Meanchey Orphanage, staffed by New Life Church, but built and supported by a group of Korean business men.  Very nice orphanage, with around 20 children.  Another 400+ for medical exams.  Gloria and I saw around 30+ patients.  Again,  many needed multiple extractions, my “personal best” was 13 on one patient!  We quit an hour early, so we could eat with the pharmacy and medical teams and actually travel in the bus with the group, rather then in the equipment/supply van later in the day.  During lunch we got to watch “bath time” out the window

Several female Buddhist monks came in today for extractions.  Nice ladies, quiet.  And very appreciative.

Maybe a note about our routine.  First, with 400+ triaged, you have to guess that more than 30 people need or want to see the dentist.  The dental triage is Ligar, and Indonesian Chinese gal.  She is the flight attendant for Singapore Air.  She finds out who needs extractions and who wants fillings or cleanings.  We have had to really limit our treatment to extractions on this trip.  We don’t have the equipment to do fillings, or the time to do cleanings.  She then lets us know as she hits 15, 20,25 people in the queue, so we know when to cut it off.

Because most people need multiple extractions and there only two of us taking teeth out, 30+ keeps us very, very busy for the whole day; 6-7 hours.  When they come into the room, they are greeted by our translator and Gloria or I determine what their needs are.  Our translator the first 2 days was Singh; we discovered that he is a businessman in Phnom Penh and an unemployed veterinarian!  In the past he lived in Cuba for 5 years to get his veterinary degree, but found the need for veterinarians was limited in Cambodia!

The other three days we have had Nara.  He is in medical school, sharp, as well; they both have a good command of English.  When we determine where and how many teeth to remove, either Gloria or I dig in and get the job done.  Oh, our 5 member of the team is Lisa, she is in command of our sterilization.  Very busy.  After we are finished with the patient, they get a toothbrush.