MATANZAS, Cuba — Frustrated by repeated missed dental appointments and frequent power outages in the area, a man from Matanzas decided to extract a tooth himself.
Mayito Rivero detailed his experience on Facebook, explaining that after repeated missed appointments and a power outage at the clinic, he sterilized a pair of pliers, wrapped it in a tissue, and removed the tooth.
“Thankfully, everything went well,” Rivero wrote on Tuesday, sharing photos of the extracted tooth and his makeshift tools.
To address online concerns, Rivero noted that his 34 years of experience as a carer and the fact that the tooth was barely loose gave him the confidence to perform the extraction.
A relative suggested taking antibiotics to prevent infection, to which Rivero calmly replied, “Everything is fine. Remember, the Rivero family is strong.”
The incident highlights the ongoing healthcare challenges in Cuba. Cuban citizens face frequent power outages, a lack of medical resources, and cumbersome appointment scheduling, forcing them to resort to makeshift solutions, sometimes even risking their lives.
In Havana, some residents had to bring their own generators to clinics to keep basic medical equipment running. Power outages across the country forced the emergency evacuation of critically ill patients who could no longer be on life support.
Hospitals lacking backup power remain high-risk areas for the most vulnerable. In Cienfuegos, doctors on duty were forced to use their cell phones for light to continue providing basic care during the widespread power outage.
This incident highlights the fragmentation of Cuba’s medical infrastructure and its growing reliance on citizens to respond to emergency medical needs in the absence of adequate state support.
