THUNDER BAY – Dr. Derval Clarke has been practicing dentistry for more than five years, and while he prides himself on helping make people smile a little brighter, he can’t help but smile himself when he is helping those who may not have regular access to dental care.
“Man, it’s awesome,” he said. “It’s almost selfish. It’s the best dentistry I ever performed, period. I have been doing humanitarian trips every year for the last five years. It’s awesome work. I provide the services I am able to provide at no charge. We don’t ask for anything in return. It’s an opportunity to show love and support to a community that may be in need.”
Clarke recently returned from Wunnumin Lake First Nation, where he and Dr. Martesia Marshall spent four days providing free dental work to the people in the community.
The trip was a partnership between Wasaya Airways and Nipigon Rotary, who provided transportation and supplies.
During their four days in the community of approximately 500 people, Clarke said he and Marshall saw more than 30 children and adults and provided services including cleanings, fillings, extractions, and whatever else people required.
According to Clarke, remote communities do have access to dental care. Dentists often fly into these communities, but it is not as consistent as the need may require.
“A dentist will fly into these communities every couple of months or so,” Clarke said. “So between those visits, there may be people who have issues that need to be dealt with and may not be able to wait until the next dentist is available.”
Which is why Clarke wants to visit these communities, because if someone is in pain or needs dental work, waiting that long can be very uncomfortable.
“It’s not logistically possible to place a dentists in a community of 500 people,” he said. “However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a need. If I have a toothache, I don’t care where I am, I need my toothache fixed. Living in a remote community doesn’t allow that luxury.”
This is not the first time Clarke has made trips to communities in need. He spent a year in Nunavut where he visited remote communities, and for the last five years, he has travelled to his homeland of Jamaica to provide dental services.
Clarke said he is planning to make future trips to remote northern communities to provide care. He added that when he arrived in Wunnumin Lake First Nation, there was a little confusion as to why he was there and why he was volunteering his time and expertise.
“That was particularly why I wanted to go,” he said. “I don’t necessarily need to be paid to provide help all the time. This was an opportunity just to show some love to a community in need and it felt good. It felt really good.”
