THE development and service of dental facility in Essequibo and Pomeroon River district between 1950 – 2012 is a mystery. In the 1950-1970 period, there were two retired dispensers from the closed sugar estates in Essequibo who gave service to the residents. Facilities such as porcelain fillings, inlays or dentures had to be done in the city.

The service in Essequibo was below acceptable standards, anesthetic for extractions were limited even though people would travel for miles for an extraction. Whenever anesthetic is not available, the dispenser would apply a strong mixture of sodium chloride to extract central and bicuspids. It was rubberized dentures at that time and only the privileged group had such facility.
The situation is much different now. The main dental clinic is located at Suddie Hospital, which offers many services free of cost. At Anna Regina and Charity Hospital clinics, dental facility is available on a daily basis.
The ‘Dentex’ training programme has delivered scores of dentex which are located all over Guyana. As a result, this programme has put an end to quacks, all of whom had no training in the application of anesthetic, emergencies and dislocation of the mandibular.

Pomeroon River and the vast population of Akawini and Wakapoa Savannahs, now receive dental care with the commissioning of a new marine dental clinic. Its recent trip in the Upper Pomeroon River saw more than 100 extractions carried out.

The Regional Executive Officer in collaboration with the Regional Health officer overlooks these schedules. Minister of Health Dr Bheri Ramsarran on his recent visit to Essequibo visited the marine dental clinic which is moored at Charity.