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Hillsboro Dentist takes a bigger bite out of kid's cavities as nonprofit grows
Hillsboro dentist Mario Pedroza has dedicated almost 10 years to improving the dental health of an entire generation of children -- in Peru.
"I always wanted to do Third World charity work," he said. "I dreamed of it for 25 years, when finally the opportunity presented itself to me."
Pedroza got his chance with a trip to the Andes in 1996. He has since helped found a nonprofit organization, Quechua Benefit, which provides dental care for children in southern Peru.
For several years, Quechua Benefit, named after a segment of the indigenous people of Peru, has operated on an annual budget of about $20,000. This year, Pedroza anticipates an annual budget of $100,000 because of his distribution of a calendar, sponsored by various businesses, featuring photos of Peru and different aspects of the program.
With the revenue created, Pedroza was able to recently hire Dr. Willy Uscamayta, a Quechua dentist, who visits the villages throughout the region at least 10 days a month to provide dental treatment for children.
Pedroza initially visited Peru once a year to provide free dental care for children, including oral surgery. But he knew that long-term care required daily brushing and checkups, a situation he couldn't change with a two-week visit each year. Hiring a local dentist, he said, has improved that situation dramatically.
Pedroza discovered the need for dental care in the area during his first visit. He was there primarily to study alpacas -- he owns Morning Sun Alpacas, an alpaca ranch in Hillsboro -- but he also was interested in the teeth of the local children.
Many of them had severely decayed teeth, a big problem for a poverty-stricken region without access to toothbrushes, toothpaste or dentists.
In Hillsboro, Pedroza provides mostly preventive and cosmetic dentistry, including fluoride treatments, sealants and orthodontia recommendations.
"It is a whole different world in Peru," he said. "What they usually need is to have teeth removed to alleviate abscesses."
Pedroza and his wife, Barrie, teamed up with alpaca ranchers Mike Safley of Hillsboro and Russ Grattan of Washougal, Wash., to form the nonprofit organization.
In the past year, Quechua Benefit started a fluoride program through schools in Peru, aimed at preventing decay. To provide incentive for the children to take care of their teeth, Pedroza organized a campaign for the schools to compete against one another. The winning school will receive a computer during his trip this November.
Pedroza receives almost all his donations from members of the alpaca industry across the United States. He says he can make the best use of the money by operating with virtually no overhead. He also works with a network of volunteers and organizations in Peru that provides transportation, housing and meals for the small team of American volunteers he travels with.
"The ability to expand the program depends on the money generated," Pedroza said. "In the future, we would like to seek corporate donations in Oregon, but we are just not there yet."
-- Kate Leeper
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