While PDS Health is known for providing quality local care, we’re also proud of our global footprint in oral health. Since 2010, we’ve partnered with nonprofits and the PDS Health Foundation to bring dental care to those in need around the world.
This means that 650 volunteers, including both clinical and non-clinical team members, have contributed over 29,000 hours in countries such as Guatemala, Ethiopia, and Fiji. We partner with local experts and have helped more than 17,000 patients and donated over $12 million to dental care overseas. And while we are proud of the numbers, the truth is, the way service impacts our team members is what inspires and motivates us.
Our work in Xenacoj, Guatemala began in 2016 with the establishment of a cost-free dental clinic that is operated year-round thanks to the support of the PDS Health Foundation and a local dental team led by Dr. Rodrigo Letona Barillas. Several times a year, teams of PDS Health dental and medical providers, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and non-clinical team members volunteer to serve patients who otherwise would not have access to care.
This work has allowed us to care for patients who have gone without treatment for months or even years. Through fillings, extractions and root canals, we're not only restoring health, but also helping patients regain their quality of life. For many volunteers, it’s a deeply meaningful and transformative experience.
Guatemala faces a significant demand for dental care, especially in rural areas where access to medical and dental services is limited or unavailable. Many patients arrive at the PDS Health Foundation Clínica Dental with untreated dental disease, malnutrition, and other health concerns.
The clinic offers resources in Spanish to help bridge language gaps and educate patients on the connection between oral health and overall health.
“The materials we now have — brochures, posters, and other resources in Spanish — make patient education much more effective,” said Dr. Letona Barillas. “Before, patients often had trouble understanding what I was explaining. Now, the information is clearer, and some even take photos so they can review it later.”
Beyond providing dental care, volunteers prioritize building meaningful connections with the community in Guatemala, just as we do across the U.S. Volunteers find that by offering a more holistic level of community support, we can make a deeper and more sustainable impact.
Outside the four walls of the clinic, volunteers also participate in collaborative projects with local community leaders, building bunk beds and providing fluoride treatments as part of a holistic approach to health.
“Helping is not only about making a filling or relieving discomfort,” said Hilda Chiquito, the clinic’s operations manager. “It’s also about taking time to explain what’s happening and doing it with heart.”
For PDS Health team members, the experience is often transformational.
“To any dentist considering this opportunity, know that you’ll be helping others, but you’ll also grow as a clinician,” said endodontist Fredericka Salbo, DMD, Owner of Endodontics Health Group. “I brought my lead dental assistant, and we both returned with a fresh perspective. It’s a powerful reminder of why we do this work.”
