According to the World Health Organization, dental caries and periodontal disease “affect the vast majority of people” in Africa. In fact, 50-80 percent of school-aged children suffer from cavities. That’s why Carestream Dental has donated RVG intraoral sensor technology to Mercy Ships for use onboard the Africa Mercy during its next field service to the West African nation of Cameroon.
The Africa Mercy is the world’s largest private hospital ship, a 152-meter long former rail ferry, completely refitted including a 1,200 square meter hospital complete with five state-of-the-art operating rooms. The ship arrived off the coast of Cameroon for its 10-month mission in early September.
While thousands of free, life-changing medical procedures will be performed onboard, the dental team will work ashore at a specially prepared clinic to provide cleanings, extractions, restorations and oral hygiene education to the local population. Since the inception of Mercy Ships in 1978, the dental team volunteers have treated over 147,000 dental patients and have provided over 390,000 dental procedures.
“We know that Carestream Dental technology can change people’s lives,” Ed Shellard, D.M.D., chief dental officer, Carestream Dental, said. “But to be able to provide that technology to a community that would otherwise go without dental care is truly rewarding. We’re incredibly grateful for organizations like Mercy Ships that make it their mission to deliver dental technology and compassionate volunteers to where they’re needed most.”
The donation of five RVG intraoral sensors from Carestream Dental have an excellent image resolution which provides clear digital images for faster, more accurate diagnoses. The sensors are also equipped with the latest version of Logicon Caries Detector v5.2 software, the only commercially available FDA-approved computer-aided radiographic caries diagnosis software.
“This generous donation of five RVG intraoral sensors from Carestream Dental will be a huge asset to our dental team as we treat patients in Cameroon,” David Ugai, D.D.S., lead dentist, Mercy Ships, said. “In many cases, these patients have not had access to any dental treatment previously. These new sensors will aid in diagnosis and treatment, allowing us to continue providing high-quality dental care to those in need.”
For more information about Mercy Ships, visit www.mercyships.org. For more information about Carestream Dental’s RVG intraoral imaging systems, or any of its innovative technology, call 800.944.6365 or visit www.carestreamdental.com.
Media Contacts
Amanda Gong, Carestream Dental
770.226.3213
amanda.gong@carestreamdental.com
Pauline Rick, Mercy Ships
972.922.5442
us.media@mercyships.org
About Mercy Ships
Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to deliver free, world-class healthcare services, capacity building and sustainable development to those with little access in the developing world. Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 70 countries providing services valued at more than $1.3 billion, treating more than 2.56 million direct beneficiaries. The Africa Mercy is crewed by 400 volunteers from up to 40 nations, an average of 1000 each year. Professionals including surgeons, dentists, nurses, healthcare trainers, teachers, cooks, seamen, engineers, and agriculturalists donate their time and skills to the effort. With offices in 16 nations, Mercy Ships seeks to transform individuals and serve nations one at a time. For more information click on www.mercyships.org.
About Carestream Dental
Carestream Dental provides industry-leading imaging, CAD/CAM, software and practice management solutions for dental and oral health professionals. With more than 100 years of industry experience, Carestream Dental products are used by seven out of 10 practitioners globally and deliver more precise diagnoses, improved workflows and superior patient care. For more information or to contact a Carestream Dental representative, call 800.944.6365 or visit www.carestreamdental.com.
Image provided by ©Mercy Ships.