Dr. Paige Woods has joined other dentists in her mission work providing free implant services to underprivileged people in Mexico. The nation has a rampant problem with dental disease that leaves as many as 70 percent of citizens over age 65 with no or few teeth.
Photos Show Excellent Work
These photos may be hard to look at if you aren’t used to seeing medical and dental procedures, but they’re worth seeing because they show that Dr. Woods provides these pro bono clients in Mexico the same clean, professional work to modern standards that her patients at Brighton Dental in San Diego get every day.
Dental implant technology is perfect for patients with limited access to dental care because it’s a permanent solution to a long-term problem. While dentures can provide a semi-permanent option, loose or ill-fitting dentures can lead to problems speaking and chewing. That can result in a degeneration of overall health. And all dentures loosen over time as the dental ridge shrinks.
The Need Is Great
Dr. Woods devotes her time to this cause because the need is so great. Oral disease, according to statistics from the World Health Organization, is the 4th most expensive condition to treat in industrialized nations. 
Unhealthy diets and tobacco usage contribute to the problem. In developed countries, as much as 10 percent of public health resources are devoted to dental care, but many nations devote very little or nothing at all.
Modern medications can also cause dry mouth, which leads to tooth decay and infection. There are more than 400 medicines that can cause dryness of the mouth. And in Mexico, dentists are likely to remove a damaged tooth rather than repair it, leading to a large number of people with missing teeth.
Implants, however, are a permanent, sensible solution, and Dr. Woods is part of the solution for the patients she treats in Mexico.