A group of students from the CU Anschutz School of Dental Medicine spent eight days in Roatán, Honduras, delivering essential dental care in communities with limited resources. Partnering with local organizations, the students gained firsthand insight into how environment and circumstance shape oral health needs.
The trip is part of CU Anschutz Dental’s expanding global health program, which allows students to work with diverse patient populations and build confidence outside the traditional classroom and clinic.
Students stayed in a local housing complex where host families prepared daily meals, emphasizing the importance of community partnership. Their week combined clinical care, school outreach, community engagement, and reflection.
From Monday to Friday, students alternated between a local clinic and a mobile dental bus visiting nearby schools. They provided exams, cleanings, fluoride treatments, and oral hygiene instruction, often to children experiencing their first dental visit.
“Many of the kids we saw were having their very first dental visit,” said dental student Fallyn Freije. “Being able to help build trust early felt incredibly meaningful.”
Limited equipment required students to rely on fundamental skills, careful judgment, and adaptability. Freije recalled treating a frightened 3-year-old with extensive decay using silver diamine fluoride. “It was emotional, but the mother trusted us completely,” she said.
Patients often arrived before sunrise, traveling long distances, sometimes by boat from surrounding islands. The effort and gratitude of patients left a strong impression on students.
Communication posed another challenge, as translators were frequently needed. Students relied on nonverbal cues, visual demonstrations, and adjusted pacing to build rapport. Freije said the experience underscored the importance of communication in dentistry and how trust can be built without words.
Evenings included discussions on lessons learned and reflections on cultural and community contexts. These activities helped students understand the broader factors that influence oral health.
“This trip affirmed that dentistry can change lives in simple, meaningful ways,” Freije said. “It taught me that being a provider is about service, compassion, and using your skills to help someone, no matter how big or small the intervention.”
CU Anschutz dental students will continue these experiences with upcoming trips to Brazil, Honduras, and Guatemala.
Faculty and alumni can support these initiatives through the CU Anschutz Dental Global Health Giving Fund, which offsets student travel and lodging costs. Donors should select “write in” under gift designation and type “CU Dental Global Health Fund.”