SCHOOL SCREENING & EDUCATION DAY.  Today we saw 3 different groups of kids from the schools.  We saw a total of about 70-80 kids today.  We went through and did what we've done for the last few weeks.  We did a lot of education, screenings, and got a list of students that are either considered "emergency", "urgent", "moderate", or "good".  We then start seeing the kids based on what their condition is and work through the long list of students that need Dental work.  These kids are incredible and they have such a huge energy for life.  They are so AWESOME!  

Their teeth are a little bit of a different story.  A lot of the kids have so many needs.  The picture down below tells a "story" of so many of the 12 and 13 year old teenagers that we are seeing.  A lot of these kids 1st molars (6 year old Molars - permanent teeth) are "bombed out".  The only thing to do is extract these teeth.  What we think is happening is the the kids go to the hospital here in Tonga, they try to extract the teeth, but only get the top portions of the teeth and the root tips are left behind.  What happens is there is infection that becomes a huge concern.  The root tips need to be removed.  Some of these kids are coming in and they have lived with pain for months.  To them, it's a part of normal life.  They are some of the strongest people I know.  They live with chronic pain because it's a part of life.  The picture down below is of the 1st molar crowns broken off at the gum line with the roots still in the tissue.  We have to go in there and surgically remove the root tips to get rid of the infection.  The other thing we are seeing a lot of is Periodontal Disease in kids as early as 10 and 11.  That's why we think education is so key to helping stop the disease process of decay and Perio Disease.  What we are doing is only a "drop in the bucket", but over time a lot of drops equal a "whole bucket FULL".  That's the way we see it.  Small differences equal large differences over time.

We were going to use some honey for lunch, but our little ants that live with us got to it first.  We see these little friends all over our kitchen area.  We've gotten used to them.  You have to watch what you leave out in the open.  You'll come back after just a few hours and there will be ants all over.  

Tonight, we went to a talent show put on by one of the villages at a church.  The kids did a fantastic job dancing and showing us some Tongan Talents.   The Tongan kids are some of the most beautiful kids you'll ever see.  Tough as nails and just beautiful people.

Tonight, after we got home, Logan and I were working on an educational video that we're putting together for the clinic.  While the Tongans are waiting in the waiting area for 2 hours or so for their appointment, they can be entertained and learn some things about oral hygiene and why it is important.  Logan is a "tech wizard", so we are using his skills and talents.  We hope it helps with the education piece of what we're trying to do.  Good to have Logan to help out with this project.