Michael Arroyo, Jr., 64, came to Operation Blessing’s Medical Brigade in Bantayan Island seeking help to extract one of his molars that frequently gives him days of toothache.
Michael is a fisherman. When the weather is fine, he can earn up to ₱1,600 ($28), which he allots for their family’s needs and for the schooling of their youngest daughter, who will soon be graduating from college.
But there are also days that Michael is unable to catch fish—during rainy days and on days when his tooth is very painful.
“I put ice on my aching tooth to relieve the pain. But then the next day, it feels painful again,” shares Michael.
He said recently that he gets toothaches as often as three times a week. So, when he heard that a medical team had arrived in their community, he went for a consult.
But upon check-up, OB’s volunteer dentist, Dr. Albert Abuy, suggested removing not just one molar but a total of 19 abraded and used-up teeth that already needed to be extracted to avoid future health problems.
“He is a fisherman, and dental care is the least of his worries… but I convinced him to remove all the 19 teeth because decayed teeth have blood supplies connected to the heart and can lead to infection,” explained Dr. Abuy.
After talking to one of his sons, Michael finally agreed to have his teeth extracted. His wife happily shared with the OB team that their son promised to save for Michael’s dentures once his gums had healed.
They are grateful; Michael was not just relieved of his toothache, but will soon have a brighter smile.
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DSWD-SB-SP-00017-2023-Nationwide. Valid until March 31, 2024.