During the entire morning of last Friday, January 22, the House of Light on the Hill performed the Voluntary Group Service of Dental Attendance, aiding adults and children from the town of Carmo da Cachoeira, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
The service of assistance started in the morning, went on until the beginning of the afternoon and attended the people. Those who arrived awaited in a small queue until they were attended in the Dental Van, prepared as a mobile Dental Office, and parked beside the Cure Unit at the House Light on the Hill. The services performed during the Voluntary Group Service aim at the relief of suffering, and focused especially on emergencies. Obturations and teeth extractions are made, and instructions about oral hygiene are shared with the public.
Maria de Fátima arrives for the first time at the dental attendance at the House Light on the Hill. She was concerned with her gum, which was swollen and painful. After being examined by the dentist, Maria received instructions on oral hygiene and care with the prosthesis, and became calmer, because it was nothing serious.
Mateus, 9, had never visited the dentist. In his first visit, he had a milk tooth extracted, which was being pushed with difficulty by the adult tooth. After a little apprehension during the extraction, he left calmly with the milk tooth in his hand.
Some of the patients of the voluntary group service of the House Light on the Hill are people who, for some reason, have difficulty in going to a dental office. “Many people are afraid of dentists and we, with some informality and care, manage to help transcend this feeling in people”, explains Cláudia, a resident in the Community-of-Light of Figueira and a volunteer at House Light on the Hill.
Nazaré Venâncio is a resident in Carmo da Cachoeira and has trouble walking. The problem is caused by a cancer in the leg, which she currently treats with chemotherapy sessions. In order to be attended in the group service, Nazaré was transported by the team at the House Light on the Hill, which went to her home. “I like it here because they attend many people who have no material resources”, she says.
“We treat each one as a soul and see the difficulty in each Being. We try to pay attention to people’s needs”, says Miriam Galvão, a volunteer at House Light on the Hill.
The House Light on the Hill organizes voluntary group services of dental attendance throughout the year, that sometimes take place at House of Saint Joseph, also in the town of Carmo da Cachoeira.
