During spring break in March, students and faculty from the Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry participated in a one-week, spiritually enriching mission trip to Jamaica. The region was still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Melissa in October 2025, and many residents lacked access to essential dental care.
The team included 22 second- through fourth-year dental students and 11 faculty members, representing a range of specialties, including oral surgery, pediatric dentistry, general dentistry, restorative dentistry and periodontics. They were also joined by Dr. Anant Grewal, former president of the Oakland County Dental Society.
During four days of service, the group treated 402 patients. Clinical care included 195 extractions, 109 fillings, 103 prophylaxis and gross debridement procedures, 27 root canals and two pulpotomies. Notably, a third-year dental student successfully saved the front teeth of a 16-year-old patient by performing a root canal and composite restoration.