Saving Samoan Children's Smiles

The islands of Samoa have stunning scenery, a lovely climate, and friendly, happy people. But in answer to a prevailing problem and pressing need in Samoa, Dr George Spencer and his wife, Linda, volunteered to be humanitarian missionaries with LDS (Latter-day Saints) Charities to do all they could to assist.

Of major concern, in Samoa and other Pacific islands, is the increasing level of dental disease. Many studies have been conducted to determine causes of the high incidence of dental problems in some of the Pacific Island nations, with Samoa being among the highest. 

A comprehensive study, conducted by T.W. Cuttress of the Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, concluded that there is no “magic bullet” to cure the existing problems of gum disease and resulting tooth loss.

However, he reported, “all the evidence points to a need to prevent and reduce the accumulation of plaque on teeth. Primary prevention, targeted to a few minutes of daily self-care is the only practical and feasible approach to overcoming the problem.” He also noted that these preventive measures are aimed at the youth.

In answer to this problem, LDS Charities organises a team of dental professionals who volunteer their time to provide free services in Samoa. The Spencers, from Calgary Canada, signed up for an 18-month mission, beginning in January 2016. Dr Kent Davis and his wife, Sandra, from San Diego, California USA, volunteered for a 6-month assignment. They are assisted by several young Samoans who also volunteer their time.

Together the team has been staffing a dental clinic in Apia and also travelling to public schools throughout the islands teaching dental hygiene and donating dental kits containing toothbrushes and toothpaste to school children.

Davis said, “We are very busy at the clinic, treating people of all ages. There is a lot of need, and unfortunately, to alleviate the pain, we end up pulling a lot of teeth. It is very important that we educate the children to practice good oral hygiene so that they won’t need to have their teeth pulled later on.”

The dental team and LDS Charities work in cooperation with the National Health Service and Colgate Palmolive to provide these services. Colgate Palmolive is providing the dental kits and has agreed to continue to ship 20,000 kits each year to be distributed to school children in Samoa.

Along with others, Dr Spencer has developed a comprehensive dental/nutritional presentation that includes a DVD demonstrating good dental care practices for the whole family, along with a set of custom dental health posters. The team's presentations to the schools have been so effective and well-received that the Samoan Ministry of Education (MOE) has asked that they be made available to all 200 schools in Samoa. 

To this end, 200 DVD's will be presented to the MOE, along with 400 custom dental health posters,so that local teachers in all the schools can make this training part of the standard health curriculum for all 40,000 students in Samoa.

"Our hope is that each year these materials can be used by the students to develop a pattern of good oral hygiene habits throughout their lifetimes," Spencer said.  

“As we visit the schools, the children are delightful, enthusiastic, and involved,” he said. “Their singing is a joy to listen to.”

“We are just one of several initiatives underway to educate the children under the direction of the Ministry of Health,” Spencer said. 

Davis added: “We have loved every minute of our service here. It is somewhat challenging, but very rewarding and fulfilling to be able to help out.”

Read more in this article in the Samoa Observer. 

Watch videos about Latter-day Saints serving communities around the world: