Volunteer mission inspires local dentist

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/02/2019 (2724 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One local dentist recently returned from brightening smiles in the southern hemisphere.

Dr. Tom Swanlund, owner of Aqua Dental Wellness (3-1565 Regent Ave. W), his wife Julie and their teenage son Liam spent a week doing volunteer dental work in Ecuador last month. 

“It was a very rewarding experience,” said Swanlund, who has been practising dentistry in and around the Park City area since graduating from the University of Manitoba 35 years ago.

From Jan. 26 to Feb. 3, a team of Canadian orthopedic surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, physiotherapists, dentists, dental assistants and dental hygienists visited a number of communities in and around Cuenca, Ecuador.

“We got to know what the patients lifestyle was like,” Swanlund said. “They live a pretty good life, but their dental care is lacking.”

Swanlund and his family took part in the mission, which was named Operation Esperanza, on the invitation of Dr. Dan VanBerkel, a former classmate of Swanlund’s with a practice in Edmonton, Alta.

“He’s been working on this project for about 15 years,” said Swanlund. “He’s invited other classmates, and this is the first year I went with him.”

One day was spent working out of the Del Rio University Hospital, where the orthopedic team was prepping for patients for hip and knee surgery. It was Swanlund’s job to give each patient a complete oral exam.

“That’s important because if they don’t have good dental health, it has a negative impact,” Swanlund said. “Chronic low-grade infections can cause lots of issues. Any sign of an infection can cause the replacement to fail.”

The logistics and groundwork in Ecuador was arranged by a local Rotary Club. The whole team worked with a portable gear, some of which was located in the communities they worked, while others were carted around in a series of 40 large duffel bags.

“The equipment is not nearly as advanced as what we have in my practice,” Swanlund said. “So that was interesting, to deal with a difficult situation with the most basic equipment.”

While most of their time was spent working, Swanlund said he and his family valued the time they spent in Ecuador. 

“I would definitely do it again,” he said. “It opened my eyes to what’s going on in other parts of the world.”

Swanlund added that the experience of working with so many Ecuadorian youth has inspired his practice to continue working hard to make children comfortable with dentistry.

“Four times a year we have a Little Smiles event, a free Saturday for kids to come in and get to know dentists,” he said. “We don’t do any dental work, but it’s just to experience what the dentist does.”

Aqua Dental Wellness’s next Little Smiles event is Sat., Feb. 23. The free event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, or to register, visit www.aquadentalwellness.com

Sheldon Birnie
Managing editor

Sheldon Birnie is the managing editor of the Free Press Community Review. Email him at sheldon.birnie@freepress.mb.ca or call him at 204-697-7112

   Read full biography