The North Dakotans – The Saga Continues~

 

Our “DAKOTANS” arrive at the Quentin N. Burdick Memorial Health Care Facility on Monday morning to begin their tour of duty. The dental facility is under the command of CAPT. Saunders P. Steiman (USPHS).

 

The clinic consists of 12 dental units with a staff of 7 dental assistants, trained in expanded functions, 2 dental hygienists, a receptionist and the clinic supervisor, Ms. Denise DeMontigny. While this may seem like an impressive operation, the Indian Health Service never has enough staff dentists to fully utilize the potential of this facility. Contract dentists are relied upon to fill the void and as we saw on our last day, the only IHS dentist on site was Dr. Steiman. All treatment our last day was provided by the young men and women of New Jersey Dental School, under the watchful eyes of Drs. Steiman, Vitaletti and Delahanty. A day did not go by, where the receptionist did not have to turn away an emergency patient, as there simply were not enough hours in the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our “DAKOTANS” were able to attend to 161 patients and complete over 200 procedures. Treatment consisted primarily of restorations and extractions. Our students became very proficient at ways to salvage and restore teeth so as not to have to resort to an elevator or forceps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click on had to turn page