Today is special because KIDS dental services is coming to provide my school with dental care. Some of my friends are happy about this because their teeth hurt, others are scared. There is an old belief in my town that if a tooth is taken out, you could become blind.
My school is very big with hundreds of primary school children. When it was our turn to see the dentist we picked up our dental paperwork.
Then we waited in line to be examined.
Dr. Bob did my exam. He used a flashlight to see my back teeth. I overheard Dr. Jon trying to speak Khmer. His accent was very funny.
After Dr. Bob's exam, I had fluoride placed on my teeth. Robyn timed the fluoride to be sure it stayed on my teeth the right amount of time.
Next, I moved to an area while I waited for a doctor to come get me. I have a baby tooth with a cavity that has to be taken out. I watched a movie on an iPad.
I try my best to clean my teeth and remember that sugar can cause cavities. But my family is very poor and toothpaste and toothbrushes are hard to get in this part of the country. The doctor who treated me was Dr. Jamie.
My extraction was easy. Afterward I sat with the other children in the recovery area.
It is now the early afternoon and school is finishing. As I do everyday, I will ride my bike 5 km back to my household . There I will help with my brothers and sisters, do my chores, and eventually help prepare dinner.
The KIDS dental group has been coming to my village for the past 8 years. They seem very proud of the fact that the number of cavities is dropping every year.
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