A group of UNC School of Dentistry students traveled to Nicaragua last spring to help treat children born with cleft palates and experience the life-saving power of dentistry firsthand.
With the help of an international team of experts — including 20 local dentists in the capital city of Managua and orthodontists from Peru and Venezuela — the six students performed 500 procedures, from basic cleanings to pre-surgical treatments, for pediatric patients from under-resourced areas.
Founded by second-year dental student Ryan Cody, the Exchange for Smiles project is a partnership between Carolina dental students and Nicaragua’s Operation Smile clinic, which provides education and treatment for children.
| UNC-CH