Iraqi dentist visits ADA

Though a late visa prevented Iraqi dentist Dr. Sana Tareq Salman from attending the ADA annual session in San Francisco last September, she was able to spend a month in the U.S. that included time with family and friends in the Detroit area and a visit to ADA Headquarters May 19.

“I hope to learn a little about what is new in dentistry and to see if I can get some patient information that can help marginalized women in Baghdad,” said Dr. Salman. “I am especially interested in women’s affairs.”

Dr. Salman says she is only able to practice dentistry in her clinic one day a week, mostly just treating family and friends.

“Many in Baghdad are afraid to go out and leave the house, because you don’t know if you’ll get back again,” she said. “There are rockets and explosions, and men, women and children are targets for kidnappers.”

She said her brother-in-law was kidnapped and held 11 days until her sister paid a ransom for his safe return.

Dr. Salman says many scientists, dentists and physicians have fled Baghdad “and scattered all over the world. But I wanted to stay. To leave your country is very difficult. You just want things to become better. If all of us (health professionals) leave, who would serve the people? They are good people. They need us.”

Since access to dental care is difficult, Dr. Salman spends much of her time, energy and passion as a volunteer, helping teach women in need about the importance of preventive oral health care.

“They have lots of different dental problems because of a lack of care,” she said.

She will return to Iraq in early June, laden with a variety of dental supplies donated by Henry Schein Dental鈥攊ncluding light cured filling material, calcium hydroxide cavity lining material, a bleaching kit and silver alloy. She will also have a variety of patient education materials, including brochures and flip charts donated by the ADA, to use in her volunteer work.

“I hope that Americans understand that most Iraqis are good people, but they can do nothing right now. The war is very hard for us. We are hoping things get back to normal in the future.”聽