North Texas Dentistry Volume 9 Issue 3 2019 ISSUE 3 DE | Page 6

cover feature
The doctors knew they wanted to give their time to help underserved
patients but did not anticipate what a fulfilling gift it was for themselves.
Working Better Together
The Dental Specialists
T
by Tina Cauller
he people who live in and around San Raimundo, Guatemala are descended from the indigenous
Mayans and Kaqchikel. Some have adapted to modern culture and speak Spanish, while others
speak some variation of indigenous language. Children are often malnourished and forced to work
to help provide for their family rather than going to school, which requires paying for uniforms,
books, and transportation. Children spend their days rolling wicks for fireworks, or provide seasonal
labor on coffee, cotton, and sugar plantations. They typically earn less than $10 for a full week of work. In this coun-
try, where three-fourths of the population lives below the poverty line, many have never seen a dentist.
6 NORTH TEXAS DENTISTRY | www.northtexasdentistry.com