Local Dentists to Provide Free Dental Care to Jamaican Children

Dr. Sharine Thenard and eight staff members from are headed to Jamaica on September 23 to provide a week of free dental care for Jamaican children.

They are participating in the Great Shapes! Inc., “1,000 Smiles Project,” a humanitarian outreach program serving impoverished Jamaican residents.

In areas of rural Jamaica, there is one dentist for every 100,00 people. They will treat children in areas surrounding Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Whitehouse and Negril.

Challenges they may face include working in makeshift clinics and sometimes unreliable power supplies.
Headed up by Dr. Thenard, the dental team will be providing treatments such as free fillings, cleanings, extractions, sealants, fluoride treatments and oral hygiene supplies.

Staffers have already shipped to Jamaica many of the instruments and medications they will be using including hundreds of toothbrushes, fluoride treatments, filling material, sealant materials and lidocaine.

“This trip will not only help the children of Jamaica, but will be very impactful for myself and some of my staff,” says Dr. Thenard.

“We live in a land of opportunity, and sometimes we forget how fortunate we truly are. Visiting other places where there is more struggle and poverty is a good reminder to be thankful for not just the things we have, but for our life in California and the U.S. In addition, my staff and I love children, and we are very excited to be able to help even just a small percentage of the world’s children who need dental care.”

Dr. Thenard is asking for community support through donations of stickers and small toys that are light and easy to pack.

While the staff has included these in their shipments, they are hoping to ensure that there are enough for every child treated.

Please bring donations to: Pleasanton Pediatric Dentistry by Wednesday, September 21 at: 1443 Cedarwood Lane, Suite D, Pleasanton. Phone: 925-846-KIDS.