El Samaritano Dental Clinic

El Samaritano Clinic has provided health care to the poor in Nejapa, a community on the outskirts of Managua, for many years. In 2019 Austin Samaritans worked with AMOS Health & Hope (AMOS), managers of El Samaritano Clinic, to provide equipment and funding support for the establishment of a dental facility at the medical clinic. High quality, affordable, compassionate dental care is provided here. Services provided by the dental clinic include fillings, extractions, abscess drainage, and cleaning. 

In Nicaragua, financial limitations reduce the likelihood that low-resource families will pursue restorative dental treatment, and children start developing cavities at a young age. Even under the public health system, patients must typically pay for dental procedures, and this is simply not feasible for many people experiencing economic hardship. Emergency care and extractions are the most available public dental services, which means that vulnerable people who cannot afford private clinics may not seek help until their situation becomes an emergency, and they need to have their teeth pulled.  

The El Samaritano Dental Program places major emphasis on educating the children and parents in the Nejapa community about the importance of dental health, dental hygiene practices, and the role of good nutrition in maintaining healthy teeth. The clinic hosts educational sessions where each child is given a toothbrush and taught appropriate toothbrushing techniques. At the end of the session, a fluoride varnish is applied to each child’s teeth to strengthen enamel and prevent cavities. 

Offering reliable, compassionate dental care in the middle of a vulnerable area in Managua, Nicaragua, is an important way of providing hope for this community.  

Austin Samaritans is a major financial supporter of the dental clinic.