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November
1, 2000
Dental
Team
September
25-October 6, 2000
Yap,
F.S.M.
This was the first dental
team Canvasback has sent to Yap. The team consisted of
dentists Tom Wieg and Ric Hufnagel; dental hygienist Kathy
Keightley; dental assistants Erica Hufnagel, Shelley
Hufnagel, Timothy Wieg, Andrew Wieg and Tracy Wright, and
team coordinator Callie Wieg.
The team provided a wide
range of basic dental services to all age groups. They saw
268 people for examinations and assessments, and provided
$111,495 worth of services (based on the accepted
California Dental Service Fee schedule).
When the team arrived in
Yap, they found that several of the basic mechanical
systems in the clinic were nonfunctional. The central
vacuum system had never been installed properly and all
the air lines were operating at below normal air pressure,
making standard dentistry very difficult.
Fortunately, in addition to
his dentistry skills, Dr. Ric Hufnagel, of Cloverdale,
Calif., is also highly skilled at repairing dental
equipment. The first three days were spent providing basic
emergency services to relieve pain while working with
hospital maintenance staff to install a new central vacuum
system, which was provided by Canvasback Missions. All
dental units were examined and repaired so that all
treatment rooms and operating units were completely
functional.
In the end, team leaders
reported that they see great promise of Yap as a model
clinic for the FSM. The excellent staff and facilities
make it a potentially perfect place to provide the most
up-to-date service and a educational center for all of the
FSM.
"It
was a privilege and honor to help the people of Yap,"
says Dr. Wieg. "The friendship they returned to us
far outweighs the time we gave to them and our
appreciation will last forever."
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