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Dental Health
Poor nutrition, lack of education, and an acute shortage of dentists have resulted in extremely poor dental hygiene in our area. Before Ak’ Tenamit was founded, most people in the villages had never seen a dentist, nor owned a toothbrush. Now, children at the schools Ak Tenamit works with are taught to brush their teeth, which they do every day in class together with their teacher. In their first month of school, students get free toothpaste; afterwards, they can buy it from Ak' Tenamit for five centavos a tube (a bit less than one penny U.S.). The dental program provides toothbrushes, toothpaste, and fluoride treatment; it also teaches the children other ways to brush their teeth, such as using a chewed stick and baking soda.

The most innovative aspect of Ak' Tenamit's dental program is the floating dental clinic (La Patricia), which is a privately donated catamaran houseboat that was equipped by Florida and Guatemalan Rotary Clubs and is powered by energy-efficient outboard motors donated by the German Embassy. With Guatemalan and foreign volunteer dentists and our Q'eqchi dental technician aboard, the floating clinic travels the Rio Dulce river system, mooring at points that people from villages deep in the mountains can hike to. The dentists and technician provide treatment to more than 1,000 patients per year, and promote good dental hygiene to many more people from the boat and main clinic site.

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