Increasing access to oral health care in Ecuador: Global outreach service-learning for dental students

As part of New York University College of Dentistry's commitment to improving health around the world, its Global Student Outreach programs have evolved for 20 years. These programs began with the intention of providing services to those lacking access to dental care. They have since grown to include three main goals: service, education, and research. Over 205 dental students, post-graduates, and faculty participate annually, and are exposed to myriad issues in oral health as a severely underestimated public health crisis. Sustainability is a key component of any health intervention, and is partially achieved through NYUCD's research initiatives on Global Student Outreach. This video will present a model of global outreach that could be duplicated by other health professionals.

In October 2012, NYUCD traveled to Ecuador to provide oral health care and education to 320 children at a school in the coastal fishing town of Manta. An additional 462 adults received emergency dental care. NYUCD's pediatric dentists worked with faculty from a local dental school to create a plan for continuing preventive services like fluoride and sealants among this group of children.

Fifteen dental students, six post-graduate students in dental specialty programs, and eight faculty members were able to use their unique skill set in this service-learning activity and were challenged to rethink their roles as healthcare professionals.

NYUCD also piloted a new mobile data capture system using tablet computers and a customized dental chart form to create an electronic record for each individual child that was seen so that the patient outcomes may be tracked over time.

NYUCD's Global Student Outreach program will return to Manta in October 2013 to follow up with the same group of children, re-assess their oral health needs and perform any necessary care, and reinforce the preventive practices that were introduced.