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Dr. Bruce Smoler embarked on a journey to Guatemala alongside fellow esteemed dentists in February 2024. Together they carried not only expertise but also the promise of brighter smiles for the underprivileged.
In a world where access to quality healthcare remains a luxury for many, heroes emerge, ready to bridge the gap between privilege and deprivation. Operation Re-dentulate Central America Association, or, O.R.C.A.A, (https://orcaaglobal.com/) is made up of many heroes whose compassion knows no bounds. Leaving the comfort of his dental practice in Westland, Michigan, Dr. Bruce Smoler embarked on a journey to Guatemala alongside fellow dentists with O.R.C.A.A. in February 2024. Together they carried not only expertise but also the promise of brighter smiles for the underprivileged.
A word from Dr. Bruce Smoler:
“Recently, I completed a Dental Implant Mission trip to Guatemala. Needless to say, I had an open mind going to a developing country, at best, or a third world Central American city. I was surprised how advanced Guatemala City was. The goal of this trip was to help restore teeth with Dental Implants. Most of Guatemala is made up of farmers at or below the poverty level. Many of these farming families send their kids into Guatemala City for extractions and dentures since there is little dental care outside of urban areas. Many of their poor individuals have lacked teeth for decades. They struggle to eat, chew, and speak due to severe dental problems with ill-fitting dentures.
O.R.C.A.A was founded to make a difference in the number of people with dentures and restore their health, dignity, and ability to live a better life. The participants in this weeklong program worked out of a very modern high tech dental school called Francisco Marroquin University, or, UFM. Any aftercare and follow up treatment was done at the Dental School. We were able to have 4 operating rooms going twice a day for the week to help eradicate HUNDREDS of years of edentulism. This is just incredible the amount of time the patients had been missing teeth. Part of the O.R.C.A.A team was involved in the surgical phase of the treatment while the rest were part of the teeth or prosthetic phase of treatment.
It was a very humbling experience to donate time and help others live better. Plus, the camaraderie of working hand in hand with other gifted surgeons from across the world was truly a unique experience with memories to cherish for many years.”
Beyond the dental procedures themselves, O.R.C.A.A.’s mission left a lasting impact on the communities visited. Moreover, their presence served as a beacon of hope, reminding people that they were not forgotten and that there are individuals like Dr. Bruce Smoler who care deeply about their welfare.