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NMS provides primary dental care including restorative and preventive dentistry, extractions and denture adjustments. Long term programs assist local personnel in developing and implementing educational programs for children, adults, teachers, healthcare and community agencies.

NMS travels to Jamaica two to three times a year, dedicating one to two weeks per trip. Teams arrive a project site with prepackaged dental kits, custom designed by NMS for specific dental issues expressed by the local host organization. A kit may contain a complete restorative set up or all the supplies needed to teach hundreds of children home care skills.

An NMS project involves:

  • Volunteers are responsible for the cost of airfare. NMS arranges with local hosts for pick up at the airport and we are driven to destination community on day of arrival.
  • Accommodations are determined by the group prior to departure and vary depending on volunteer preferences and available options in each community. There is the option of staying in the homes of our host organization members.
  • NMS volunteers arrange meals. Length of projects are also determined by volunteer availability.
  • Start time is 8 AM and finish time is generally 3 PM. This is variable depending on the heat.
  • Every project strives to provide educational and preventive services. We operate in small clinics or schools in rural communities or in under serviced inner city clinics.
  • The dental clinic may have 1-3 dental units, sterilization area, generator and water supply. X Ray capability is limited in Jamaica; only 2 of the 13 parish health centres are equipped with X ray machines.
  • Each clinic has a supervisor/administrator, sterilization assistant (universal precautions), dentist, registered dental hygienist and dental assistant. The Ministry of Health designates a Dental Nurse to work with NMS.
  • Medical history is taken with written/verbal consent for tx.
  • Medications/analgesics are purchased on the island for each project.
  • Educational services vary provided for students, parents, teachers and local healthcare professionals.
  • There is time to travel and see the many sites and activities Jamaica has to offer. In addition to evenings, weekends are available. Arrangements can be made if volunteers would like to vacation on the island after their volunteer workweek.