Dentist's dedication takes bite out of poverty

Congratulations Dr Paul Kotala. Well done!

"LOOKING for the dentist? He's just down past the fried cockroaches and before the pickled fish roe and papaya.

It is market day in a small village in Laos. In the stifling humidity, villagers are searching for Paul Kotala's old kitchen chair, nestled between the fruits and vegetables laid out on tarpaulins.

Some have travelled for up to five hours by tuk-tuk, boat or on foot, and many are in intense pain from impacted teeth and abscesses. One patient is running late for his appointment. Days late. When questioned, he explains his buffalo was sick.

It is a long way from Mosman, where Dr Kotala ran a private practice for 13 years, but this is where his heart, and conscience, found a home."

For the full story see Dentist's dedication takes bite out of poverty - World - smh.com.au

hey there,
paul kotala here. just firstly would like to compliment steve on all the work that he has done on this site.
the work i do in laos is truely rewarding. whilst i have partaken in most areas of dentistry in australia, nothing can prepare you for the first few days working on a verandah with no electricity or water. the people are so friendly and patient, often waiting for a few hours, mind you before i was there they had no dentist so any time would have been shorter.
i visit there 4 times a year and further information can be found on www.toothaid.org
cheers
pk

So Paul, I assume you would have mainly performed extractions (hoping they didn't become surgicals!) and sedative dressings after using hand instruments?

Steve

Oh I remember reading about this. Truly Selfless and admirable stuff, what

i too have read about this
its a great article

Nice story of Paul kattola.

The world and dental community could obviously use many more noble people like this.

Currently I volunteer one day a week at a local correctional facility, since i am in semi-retirement mode. Usually extract about 100 teeth a day. Granted most of the extracted teeth are periodontally involved, but usually there are a few that are soft-tissue and bony-impactions. If any of you desire oral surgery experiences, volunteer your time and effort at a local correctional facility where most homeless and indigent population reside..

You must come across a few interesting patients in the correctional facility. Any particular cases stand out?

__________________
Steve Parker

Wisdom Teeth Centre
www.wisdomteethcentre.com.au

I had to suture the tongue of this one detainee due to inter-prisoner altercation last week. Never a boring minute in the corrections I tell you !! lol...Yesterday we had two corrections officers attacked by several aggressive inmates. I ended up by referring two detainees out to a local oral surgeon due to suspected jaw fractures and extracted # 9 from the battle-hardened detention officer..I always wanted to specialize in oral surgery, just did not have the grades.