Woodlands Family Dental travels to Guatemela to provide dental care

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - When people think of humanitarian care, they typically think about meeting the three basic necessities of life: food, clothing, and shelter. Medical and dental care are often overlooked despite being extremely important. In fact, oral health is said to reflect a person’s overall health and has been linked to certain types of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. The doctors at Woodlands Family Dental have been traveling to underdeveloped countries for over a decade to help provide dental care for those without access to proper medical services.

This past March, Dr. Brett Murphey, Dr. Andrew Nalley and others from the Woodlands Family Dental team joined dentists and dental students from around Texas to travel to Guatemala and provide dental care at the Asociation Medica Quirurgica de San Raymundo (the Surgical Medical Association of San Raymundo).

“I have taken 14 dental mission trips in my career and this was my second year being able to serve the people of Guatemala,” Dr. Murphey said. “These trips continually prove to me that it is through giving that we receive! It is an amazing opportunity to serve the children and adults alongside my Woodlands Family Dental team.”

During their one-week stay, they were able to serve more than 850 people. However, Dr. Murphey was not there for the sole purpose of providing dental services; he was also there to work with student dentists and inspire them to continue to help those who need it.

“Besides serving those with dental needs, I also enjoy mentoring the student dentists on the trip,” Dr. Murphey said. “Students have a narrow window in their development as a professional to establish these beliefs and philosophies. I try to show the dental students the joy in serving others as well as instilling a passion for service in them that will continue once they have become licensed dentists.”

Serving others through dental care is a passion for all three of the doctors at Woodlands Family Dental, who have been on a combined 23 dental mission trips in other countries. While going on these trips, their goal has been to provide care for others, but they have shared the common experience of being blessed through serving.

“It seems like I always go [on these trips] with the intent of helping people through dentistry and most times I feel like I’m the one who is affected the most,” Dr. Murphey said.

Dr. Nalley’s interest in dentistry was “sparked by the doors that it opens to serve others,” he said, “there has been no greater joy than meeting people’s needs through my skills and training in dentistry.”

Dr. Esteban Garza agrees with their statements and also added that “there is a struggle leaving your comfort zone and going on a mission trip, but when you go, you are so glad that you did. It rejuvenates my heart for people which I can then bring into my daily practice at home.”

Located at 1400 Research Forest Drive, suite 120, Woodlands Family Dental is proud to be committed to excellence through service. They will be expanding this commitment at a second location in Creekside, which is expected to open this fall.