GABRIEL’S DREAM. . .
A CHARITY FOR SUDAN’S LOST BOYS

VALLEY DENTISTS GIVE

                   LOST BOYS NEW SMILES

Many of the Lost Boys have serious dental needs.  Sudanese tribes had a custom of removing six lower teeth, from canine to canine, and some tribes removed the two upper canines.  We have heard different stories about this initiation rite that gouged out small boys’ teeth with a hot metal.  Some say it was to distinguish the tribes, or that they felt they had too many teeth, and we have been told that the upper teeth were removed to create a gap, as it signified prophecy.


It was an extremely painful rite of passage, and they would bring shame on their families if they cried.  After all, they would one day have to fight off lions, hyenas and wild dogs, or warring factions one day.  They were expected to be warriors, and the other consequence of crying was that the girls would not be attracted to them when they reached marriageable age. Moms gave them milk to stop the bleeding.

That was fine in Sudan, where they were considered handsome without the teeth. However, when they arrived in the United States, they wondered why everyone was smiling and had all those teeth.  Embarrassment set in, and so did problems with eating American food.

 

Another custom that has caused these young men much anxiety was that their mothers pushed on their palates when they were infants to make the top teeth  .protrude.  Buckteeth were popular in Sudan

 

The dental program started 5 years ago with just one dentist, and today there are 100 dentists in the Valley giving their time and care to these young men.  To date over $1million dollars of free dental care has been donated.  Care has included implants; permanent partials; orthodontia; root canals; cleanings; extractions and fillings.

 

We think it is a major miracle as no one else in the country has had this kind of loving care.  We salute these wonderful dentists who have stepped forward to give these young men healthy teeth, and self confidence.

 

What is truly amazing is that none of the dentists feel they are sacrificing.  Most feel this is an opportunity of a lifetime. 

 

We still have many boys on the waiting list for orthodontia and implants.



To view a slide show of some of the dentists who have given smiles to the Lost Boys  click on the "Next" and "Previous" labels below: 


;

 Previous Next