RICHMOND, St Mary — If all goes well over the next two months, St Mary residents will be able to receive regular care at the parish’s new dental clinic, to be operated by the Jamaica Dental Association (JDA).

According to JDA President Dr Shaka Cooke, the facility, which will be located at Ashish Medical Centre in Annotto Bay, is badly needed.

“St Mary is one parish that is greatly underserved in this area so it will only be beneficial to the parish,” Cooke told the Jamaica Observer.

There are only two clinics of this kind in the country — one located in Mount Airy, St James, and the other at National Chest Hospital in Kingston.

Dr Cooke lauded philanthropist Dr Nagendra Babu Chandolu of the Ashish Foundation for his role in making the St Mary dental clinic possible.

“Dr Chandolu has been very kind enough to give us the space free of cost. It is located at his complex, Ashish Medical Centre in Annotto Bay. It is just for us to put the equipment together with all the necessary dynamics. We are looking at two months for the opening of it since we have done all the necessary logistics and dynamics,” said the JDA president who explained that dentists will be available once per month.

He was speaking with the Observer during a recent dental clinic held at St Mary Technical High School in recognition of oral health month, which is observed each October.

“Today we saw over 100 students. Their reaction was mixed as many would not have this kind of opportunity to sit in a dentist chair to receive oral health care…” said Dr Cooke.

Dr Chandolu, who is one of the main sponsors of the dental clinic, said: “In my practice I have seen many patients suffering from cardiac problems because of their poor dental care due to the lack of education on oral hygiene. Some students have never sat in a dentist chair and they are facing a lot of problems with their mouth.”

An elated St Mary Technical High School Principal Orville Richards said he was happy his students were chosen to receive care.

“I know that students appreciate this intervention, as many wouldn’t have been able to access these services,” he said.

More than 15 dentists and dental assistants joined members from the University of Technology, Jamaica and The University of the West Indies dentistry departments in volunteering for the dental clinic staged at the school.

Students benefited from cleanings, fillings, and extractions.

— Ingrid Henry