NHTI Hosts Refugee Dental Clinic

On Friday January 10, NHTI hosted a free dental clinic for refugees, donating the use of the Dental Hygiene Clinic in MacRury Hall.  This was the first major undertaking of the Refugee Oral Health Initiative, a cooperative effort of NH Health & Human Services' Office of Minority Health and Refugee Affairs, the NH Dental Hygienists Association, the Concord Dental Society, and NHTI, funded by a grant from Northeast Delta Dental.

A translator helps a dentist explain his findings and recommended treatment.  The dentist, hygienist and translator are all volunteers.

According to Laura McGlashan, Refugee Health Coordinator with Health & Human Services, dental hygiene is the number one health issue for newly arrived refugees in New Hampshire.  Last Friday's clinic was only the first step in addressing that issue for the 20 refugees chosen to participate.  Volunteer dentists and hygienists examined each patient in order to assess their dental needs.  Volunteer translators (for six different languages, provided by Lutheran Social Services) were on hand to facilitate each step of the process.

About a dozen hygienists and seven dentists, plus some NHTI faculty and students, participated in the clinic, providing oral exams, x-rays and treatment planning.  Most of the patients will require additional treatment for various dental conditions, which will be provided by local dentists.

Meanwhile, the next round of what the participants are starting to call "Dentists Within Borders" is already being planned.