Iyi aksamlar :)

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Not quite what I expected..
This is because I had to redo one part of my practical work for the master thesis. I had to retake the saliva tests, which is important for a program called Cariogram. Saliva measurement is one of the influencing factors for the incidence of caries.
I use the Cariogram program as visual feedback to show the mother-child pairs the caries risk and what is needed to be changed to reduce the caries risk in the future. This is a good and simple method to show which factors that affect the disease and at the same time giving mothers an education about the disease and oral hygiene. This has to be redone on 50 patients. While we took saliva samples and made measurement, we also applied fluoride varnish on the children and rewarded them with balloons and stickers to the children, and to give them good memories of their visit to us. Some of the children were difficult to handle because they were afraid and could not sit still. This became a challenge, but with the help of the mothers and knee to knee method, we implemented what we had wished for. It remained 20 patients because everybody couldn’t show up.
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I also got the chance to visit another village near Kirikkale called for “Hasandede” together with two other dental students and two dentists. It was full of families who had moved from Mardin, Urfa and Syria as refugees. We investigated and fluoride varnished 30 children. We had so much fun laughing with the children and we played together. I really saw how happy they were because of our visit and how much they appreciated what we did. It felt incredibly good inside.
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God kväll gott folk (Iyi aksamlar)

Gained new knowledge and experience

 

I lived my days filled with new events, lessons and experience. Together with my supervisor and a group of 18 students, we went to Kahramanmaras City, where we spent a week visiting different places. The places that were scheduled for us to visit were Healthcare Center (for handicapped Children), Syrian refugees Camp, geriatric care and a village.

We spent the first day to get to know the city and each other. The group consisted of both dental- and nurse students from different cities in Turkey. We would cooperate and together we would complete each other as a team.

Behind Kahramanmaras City lies a wonderful history and the city is well known for its famous ice cream made of fine goat milk and wild orchid flower roots from the surrounding Mountains. Lets not forget to mention their tasteful bakava that we ate already the first day we were there. I really recommend you all to visit K.Maras City for its breathtaking nature and their ice cream.

This province, was named Maras until 1918, then it changed to Kahramanmaras. Kahraman, which means “hero” in Turkish, was added in reference to the bravery of the people of the city that stood up to the French occupation after the 1 World war. Kahraman, which means “hero” in Turkish, was added in reference to the bravery of the people of the City that stood up to the French occupation after the 1 World War.

The day after, we had a “training” day where the supervisor Prof. Turksel Dulgergil went through the schedule, clinical examination form, different cases, diseases and treatments that could be needed when visiting the different places. The day was informative and fun.

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Dr Berna Göcebe giving us info about the schedule.

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A lecture held by Prof Turksel Dulgergil.

The third day we went together to a village called Turkoglu Uzunsögut. When we arrived the majority of the people was already gathered from the village and we were warmly welcomed with smiles. When we stepped off the bus we were surrounded by happy children who had been waiting patiently for us in the warm weather, and they helped us to prepare and set up chairs, tables, etc.

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Arriving at the village. With mobile dental unit and tools we are ready.

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Prof Turksel deals with the first patient.

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My mates gave oral hygiene instructions to the Children.

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Knee-to-knee with parent to treat the Child (fluoride varnish application).

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Inside of the mobile dental unit where some treatments can be performed.

The atmosphere was filled with energy and joy. We were divided into small Groups and each group would be in charge of different tasks (examination, fluoride varnish etc). At the end of the day, the clinical examination, fluoride varnish, treatment was performed and all mother-child pairs received dental kits. In addition to this they were given the disease info and oral hygiene instructions. The total number of dhildren examined was 450.

It was a tough day in 40 degree heat and work under the sun, but it was extremely instructive and the experience was wonderful. Helping children and mothers and making them aware of their oral health was worth all the sweat.

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At the end of the day…wonderful feelings have been shared.

The fourth day of the week, we went to Syrian Refugees Camp. We got on the bus and we were charged of energy and joy to meet everyone and see how they truly have it.  When we arrived after a few hours bus trip, we saw that all of the children were waiting for us. It made me so happy to see. When we got off the bus the Children ran over, with hugs and kisses and with the joy in their eyes and smile and dragged us to their other friends. This increased my energy and made me genuinely happy to see. After having spent a wonderful time with the children out there, we had to start working. We were split up in different groups and each group was responsible for different tasks. At the end of the day we had received 1000 Children. I left the place with joy, knowing I did all I could.

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The never ending queue.

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A Picture says a thousand Words.

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Giving them oral hygiene instructions and dental kits. It was so fun to see how willing they are to learn. All we need is tooth brush and education to maintain a better oral healh.

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While clinically examining the Children.

I looked forward to the fifth day because we would meet children with mental and physicial disabilities and children from 1-6 years of age. We performed the same tasks as the previous days, but the application was different on the handicapped children. It was particularly challenging especially because some children could not sit still, some were scared, some were susceptible when we came near their mouth region and some of them wanted so much attention and love which made me so happy to experience. Being around them felt different because they radiated special energy and love was seen in their eyes. It was a special experience and I would love to do it again.

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We have Power in our hands to do something…and we gotta use it.

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Children with disibilities are dependent on someone for the rest of their lives. We have to help them in one way or another and create opportunities for them, just like we have.

After some hours, we had to go to the health care center where we met mothers with children between 1-6 years. We made clinical examination and we applied fluoride varnish for the children. It was such a wonderful day.

The sixth day was an exciting day for me because I have never visited geriatric care. The day was scheduled to meet elderly adults and to treat them. When we arrived, we sat together with the elderly adults to get to know them. After a nice moment of life stories and funny jokes together with them we began to examine and treat them. Some needed scaling, some needed their prosthesis to be checked etc. We also gave oral hygiene instructions and disease info and distributed dental kits to them. We ended the day by going to Yesilgöz where we ate barbecued food surrounded of wonderful hills and a beautiful lake. Certificates were awarded with handmade jewelry box as a gift to each one of us.

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Lets make difference in their lives.

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Prof Turksel Dulgergil is making restorations.

The seventh day we packed our bags and we went our separate ways after a wonderful week and time together. The memories will remain and be unforgettable. I am more than happy and forever thankful for this opportunity and experience.

 

There lies opportunities to seek knowledge and we all make our own opportunities if we want. The knowledge is everywhere and is overpriced free. It just depends on us to seek and deepen our knowledge. This experience has truly enriched me as person and my future.

 

 

Amazing time

 

17 july -27 july

Already three wonderful weeks have passed. Overall, my weeks have surpassed all of my expectations. Happy to tell you guys, my weeks are filled with amazing sights and experiences.

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As planned, I regularly spend 3-4 days per week at the Family Physician Health Center to continue to collect data for my work. I have reached amount of 35 mother-child pairs and I have 15 left. While examining the pairs I feel meaningful purpose, knowing that this isn’t just a thesis that has to be done, but also that those mother-child pairs hereafter will become aware about their oral health and will get enlightened with education to maintain a good oral hygiene. Not only education, but also distribution of dental kits that will be given to them such as toothbrushes and toothpaste. This will have a significant impact in improving oral health. In terms of their bad dental status the challenges are big, but so are the rewards.

We are having a great opportunity to make a significant difference in their lives.

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In the end of every examination I can see and feel a sense of appreciation in their eyes. Experiencing that rewards can be so big after little investment is truly amazing. This really fuels my entire day and due to this I wake up every morning with momentum and go to sleep with satisfaction.

I spend the rest of the days at the University where my supervisor works. At the Clinic I continue to collect relevant articles to work, analyzing saliva samples and get my own patients to treat.

Another great part of the day is looking forward to getting my own patient to examine and treat them because I experience different cases and learn a different system of treating. It is so instructive to explore similarities and learn the differences between the countries for example, how we examine, how we meet the patients, how we diagnose and what factors mostly matters.

I’m ending my days jogging together with my supervisor Dr Turksel to the forest and mountains to capture the nature and release my thoughts because I believe the nature is a great equalizer. I’m truly amazed by the size and variety of the natural environments and I just can’t get enough of it.

 

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Oi Goiania

Äntligen!!
Efter 28 timmars resetid har vi äntligen kommit fram till Goiania, Brasilien!! Dock är rätt slitna och mörbultade bara några ord för att beskriva vårt tillstånd efter väldigt hektiska timmar den senaste tiden!! Men satan vilket äventyr vi är ute på – det har vi redan börjat känna av!! :)Färden började för min del vid 14 tiden från ett extremt lökigt 30 gradigt Lund där mina föräldrar kom och hämtade mig och min 20kg reseväska för att därefter åka och möta upp Sandy och hennes föräldrar i Malmö. Därefter började resan på allvar!
Kastrup -> Frankfurt -> Sao Paulo blev första resefärden!Färden mellan Kastrup och Frankfurt gick på bara någon timme medan flyget Frankfurt till Sao Paulo tog 11 timmar och 30 min.. Kändes lite ångestladdat att vi skulle sitta på ett flyg så himla länge, men tur nog vad flyget över all förväntan med extremt god mat, allt för många bra filmer att välja mellan och bästa stolarna som kunde fällas till en helt okej sovbar position!! 🙂
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Men trots detta så blev vår natt rätt sömnlös och vi landar i 12 gradiga (!?!?!) Sao Paulo – minst sagt schletna och frusna!! Så grundlurade vi kände oss när vi gick av på flygplatsen i klänningar och shorts och alla andra gick i vinterjackor och långa byxor.. Dessutom behövde vi byta till en annan flygplats i Sao Paulo och slussas runt bland diverse transferbussar innan vi slutligen kom rätt!
Jaao, de blev minst sagt ett par kalla timmar på Sao Paulos flygplats i väntan på nästa flyg som skulle ta oss till vår slutdestination Goiania! Men TACK OCH LOV så anlände vi därefter till ett soligt Goiania med en temp på 22 grader som kunde tina upp oss som hunnit bli grymt kalla!
Väl i Goiania så blev vi upphämtade på flygplatsen av tre tandläkarstudenter som studerar vid Federale Universitade de Goias; Vanessa, Sarah och Gustavo! Lättnaden var obeskrivlig med tanke på hur trötta och virriga som vi var vid det här laget, lätt uttorkade och sömnbristkickade! Sarah och Gustavo hade vi redan träffat sedan tidigare i februari när de var utbytesstudenter i Malmö, så det var riktigt skönt att ha några bekanta ansikten som direkt tog över allt ansvar och körde oss till vår nya lägenhet som dom ordnat till oss!!
Vi drog snabbt upp och lämnade väskorna och bytte om innan dom drog iväg oss på en mini road-trip á la Goiania! 🙂 Färden tog oss först förbi skolan och vidare till ett köp-center där vi gick och åt kvällsmat! Den största skillnaden vad gäller restauranger här i Goiania är att man lägger upp sin egen mat och plockar från buffeer, istället för att man sätter sig ner och beställer en rätt! En klar favorit!
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Vanessa, Sandy och Sarah!
Därefter gick vi och handlade lite mat på super-market till frukost etc! Det som var rätt påtagligt ända sedan vi anlände i Brasilien är att knappt någon kan ett enda ord engelska. Och vi kan definitivt inte ett enda ord portugisiska heller haha! Så språkbarriären är påtaglig och att bara gå och handla mat är en utmaning i sig! Så tur nog kunde tandläkargänget hjälpa oss igenom kassasystemet och agera som tolk!
Därefter fortsatte färden både hem till Vanessas föräldrar och Sarahs föräldrar som samtliga bor i Goiania! Helt otroligt snällt nog hjälpte alla 3 studenter oss att samla ihop av sina personliga saker, bestick, tallrikar, stolar, bord, täcken, kuddar etc till vår lägenhet för att vi ska slippa behöva köpa allt det själva! 🙂 Så stor tumme upp för att dom ställt upp så mycket!!
Sist men inte minst avslutades världens längsta dag av att vi kom hem till lägenheten och hann precis bädda och packa upp våra väskor innan vi total kollapsade i våra sängar vid 7 tiden brasiliansk tid och vaknade först en 13 timmar senare haha! Så fruktansvärt behövt!! :)Snart kommer en annan tandläkarstudent, Lukas, från den internationella styrelsen vid skolan och ska ta oss ut och visa runt i Goiania lite till och ta oss ut för att käka! Därefter imorgon kommer vi att träffa vår brasilianska handledare, Rejane, som lär visa runt oss på skolan – något som lär kicka igång denna resa och vårt projekt på riktigt! Ska bli mucho kul!!
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Helt OK utsikt från vår lägenhet!