Evolution of a humanitarian dental mission to Madagascar from 1999 to 2008

In this article, we report on the evolution of a series of dental outreach missions sponsored by Stony Brook University to remote areas of Madagascar over a nine-year period. The project evolved from one dental resident performing only dental extractions in 1999 to a team comprised of two dentists, six third-year dental students, and two dental assistants performing dental restorations, extractions, and endodontic procedures using digital radiographic equipment in 2008. The ability during the latest mission to utilize digital radiography in remote areas lacking running water, electricity, and dental facilities significantly enhanced the range and efficacy of dental procedures. This long-term project offered senior dental students and residents from Stony Brook University's School of Dental Medicine an educationally valuable opportunity to engage in international dental outreach and to make a significant contribution to the improvement of oral health in the underserved rural communities of Madagascar.