Approximately 400 students of Parry Town Primary School in St Ann received free dental care when the Great Shape Inc dental team set up a clinic at the facility last week.

The majority of the students had their teeth cleaned while others had sealant and fluoride treatment done at the clinic which was held over five days.

Parents and guardians were excited that the children received dental care in their own community and at no cost since many of them could not have afforded the service.

“It is great. It is great for the kids to experience what is cleaning of teeth,” parent, Joy Russell, said.

The mother of two students at the school added, “We are grateful for it because a lot of parents cannot afford cleaning of teeth. I know if I have to go and find $15,000 to clean three of them teeth, it would puzzle me.”

Another parent Venice Riley said she was happy for the project.

“I feel good about it,” she said.

Chairman of the school board Ian Bell also joined those in expressing appreciation to the organisers of the clinic.

A grateful Bell said he would like the event to be an annual one.

“When you look at 398 children being treated with the best dental care without a dollar, it is something to speak of. I am indeed grateful for the efforts being made,” Bell told the Jamaica Observer North East.

He said the parents were very appreciative as many would not have been able to afford the treatment for the children.

“A lot of them are saying that ‘you know how many thousands of dollars it would cost us to get this done’,” Bell said.

He expressed thanks to the Great Shape Inc’s 1000 Smiles project and to Sandals which organised the clinic at the school.

Meanwhile, Clinical Director of the Great Shape dental project Dr Sherwin Shinn said the team was happy to serve the children.

“This particular programme, the sealant programme is something that we are really excited about,” he told the Observer North East.

Dr Shinn said the clinic was part of a sealant project which has seen the dental practitioners going into schools across the island over the last three years.

The project aims to reduce dental problems in young adults by ensuring that young children receive the appropriate dental care.

Through this project, local dental practitioners are being trained to take over the project, Dr Shinn revealed.

“We are training local people to learn how to do it,” he said, adding,” We are really excited that the Minister of Health Dr Fenton Ferguson is really behind this project.”

The Great Shape dental team also visited St Thomas last week where they operated from a state-of-the-art clinic implemented by the minister in the parish.

“He wants us to take this project nationwide,” Dr Shinn explained. He said Great Shape is in the process of developing a model and statistics of the likely cost as well as the number of persons needed for a national project for the Ministry of Health.

Children with serious dental issues were also referred to local clinic for further treatment.

Dr Shinn, who is a recipient of the American Dental Association Humanitarian Award, said he has been coming to Jamaica since 2000.

“I do it because I know it helps people,” he explained.

Dr Shinn said he has travelled to 48 countries since 1990, making three trips yearly to provide dental care to especially small children.

According to Dr Shinn, he has seen the extreme effects of dental problems which have lead to deaths and wants to do all he can to prevent this.

While he appreciates being recognised for the work he has been doing, Dr Shinn said, ” I don’t do it for the awards.”