06/02/2026
DENTAL CAMP
In the month of January, a 9 days dental camp was conducted at St Dominic’s hospital by the American and local dentists from various institutions of the copperbelt province. Its objective was to promote oral health awareness and provide comprehensive preventive and curative dental services to the surrounding communities. The initiative aimed to reduce the burden of oral diseases through early detection, prevention and timely treatment of dental conditions among individuals of all age groups.Preventive services formed a key component of the camp. A few schools and a children’s home were visited where fissure sealants were applied, particularly for children and adolescents to protect vulnerable teeth from dental caries. Fluoride applications were also provided to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent tooth decay. Application of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) as prevention of progression of tooth decay in already decayed teeth was also done.Curative dental services addressed a wide range of oral health needs. Tooth fillings were performed to restore teeth affected by dental caries, improving function and aesthetics. Tooth extractions, including both simple and surgical procedures were carried out for severely decayed, infected or non-restorable teeth to relieve pain and prevent further complications. Advanced treatment options were also offered. Dental implant services were provided to eligible patients with missing teeth, offering a durable and functional tooth replacement solution. Minor and major maxillofacial surgical procedures, that is, cemento-ossifying fibroma of the maxilla, ranula of the sublingual salivary glands, and pleomorphic adenoma of the submandibular salivary gland were performed following appropriate clinical guidelines to ensure patient safety.In addition to clinical care, oral health education was provided to patients focussing on proper oral hygiene practices, dietary advice, and the importance of regular dental check-ups. Yogili (yoga) to introduce the importance of exercise to children for a healthy body and enhanced concentration in class was also part of the activities.Overall, the dental camp successfully improved access to essential oral health care services, promoted preventive practices and enhanced the oral health and quality of life of the communities.Thank you to the Provincial Health Director, the hospital administrator and staff of St Dominic and the Dominican sisters and everyone who participated in one way or the other for the success of the camp.
4 schools were visited
1,551 pupils were attended to
1 Children's home was visited
145 patients were seen at St Dominic's dental clinic
50 at the government dental clinic
3 maxillofacial surgeries were done
health dentistry
