At Pediatric Dental Associates, we’re fortunate to have talented doctors who not only are committed to serving their local community but feel driven to extend their talents abroad. Dr. Paul Bahn has served patients in his home state of Pennsylvania for over 20 years. He is passionate about making dentistry accessible for all, whether it’s in Philadelphia at Pediatric Dental Associates, or halfway around the world. Dr. Bahn recently returned from serving smiles in Mexico with his daughter. Below he shares the impact dental missions can make overseas and within your own life.

A Deep Love For Giving Back

A little over 20 years ago, I ventured to Barahona in the Dominican Republic to embark on my first dental mission trip.  It was spring break of my junior year in college, and I did not fully know what to expect from this adventure, all I knew was I wanted to go into dentistry.  I figured I would be assisting and doing mundane tasks to help the pediatric dentist and two dental students in the group.  As the trip unfolded, each day we traveled to a different village either up in the mountains or down on the coast.  Each day we piled suitcases with supplies, instruments, a pressure cooker and anything else we could fit into the back of a fairly dilapidated pick-up truck.  We did not keep count of all the procedures and individuals we impacted, but it was truly a life-alerting experience for myself.

Fast forward almost two decades, and through organized dentistry and involvement with the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD), I met a lot of amazing individuals and pediatric dentists.  The topic of dental mission trips came up in conversation this past September during the Oral Clinical Examination with a fellow examiner.   After about three minutes of discussion about the trip he routinely participated in, I told them I was all in and asked where I needed to sign up! 

Serving Smiles In Mexico

This past May of 2024, we flew to Mexico and drove almost two hours to the city of Valladolid in the Yucatan.  Our group consisted of pediatric and general dentists, a medical anesthesiologist, a few dental students from the University of Oklahoma, and two children of the pediatric dentists.  This trip was much larger and very different from what I experienced over 20 years ago.  We were fortunate to have space within a hospital at Centro Medico San Lucas that could accommodate four chairs, each with a fully functioning dental unit to provide restorative and hygiene care.  We also had access to an operating room, to provide care under general anesthesia for younger patients with extensive dental needs.  If you have ever participated in a dental mission trip abroad, you often are limited to extractions and have no access to radiographs, which reduces the services provided.

Each day the group would break up into three separate teams.  One team would complete operating room cases, one team stayed within the hospital clinic setting and the other team traveled about 45 minutes north of Valladolid to the town of Tizimin.  While in Tizimin, it very much reminded me of Barahona with no access to radiographs, oppressive humidity, and sweltering heat of 107 degrees while working in darker rooms with limited lighting and modified dental chairs.  In total the group saw 275 patients, performed 161 extractions, restored over 125 teeth, placed 56 stainless steel crowns, and completed countless scalings and cleanings.  Chord Specialty Dental Partners was also gracious enough to donate supplies and an entire stainless steel crown set, much of which was used during the week.

One of the most rewarding parts of the trip was seeing how immersed and engaged my daughter was with the patients and procedures.  To have her as my dental assistant in the operating room and translate in the clinic was truly special to watch.  I waited until college to do this kind of trip, but she was lucky enough to go as a high school junior.   One of the best things she said as we drove back to the airport to fly home to Philadelphia was, “Can I come back next year!?!?”  These trips can truly be contagious and uplifting to break up the monotony of the daily dental grind.

If you have never participated in a mission trip abroad, I encourage you strongly to get involved.  If you are new to practicing dentistry, it can dramatically improve your skillset, and if you have been in practice for years, you would be an asset and great mentor to a group.  These trips are not for the faint of heart and will push the bounds at times of personal comfort levels.  Outside of the long days and heat, the evenings were relaxing, and the food was beyond authentic.  Even though we worked a full day, it was rewarding and an unforgettable memory, much like my first trip 20 years prior.