Supporting dental care and education in Liberia

Before moving to Liberia, Dr Hunter practised dentistry in Cornwall in the UK, where he was accustomed to working under an operating microscope. Transitioning to a resource-limited environment where power cuts are common represented a significant change. In Liberia, Dr Hunter uses Admetec’s Ergo V loupes, which provide three adjustable magnification levels in a single device. This allows him to use the same pair of loupes for surgical procedures, endodontic treatment and routine care. A compatible Admetec headlight provides consistent illumination when the power supply is unreliable.

Turning procedures into teaching opportunities

A major part of Dr Hunter’s work in Liberia involves training students at the Liberia Dental Therapy School. Previously, students learning a new technique would gather around the dental chair and try to observe the procedure from behind the operator. Dr Hunter now also uses Admetec’s Flamingo wireless camera during procedures to share the clinician’s view with students in real time.

“I was incredibly excited to put the Flamingo camera to good use in Liberia, and I’ve been able to use it in far more ways than I expected,” Dr Hunter said. “My students can see the fine details of a technique in a way that just wouldn’t be possible if they were trying to look over my shoulder. In many ways, it allows them to see what I’m doing through my own eyes.”

Because procedures can be recorded, footage can also be replayed later in the classroom. This allows treatments performed during outreach trips or busy clinic days to provide practical teaching material for the students.

Connecting with specialists remotely

The camera has also facilitated remote collaboration. In some cases, Dr Hunter has recorded footage and shared it with an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, allowing them to discuss complex cases and treatment approaches despite being thousands of miles apart.

Recently, this collaboration supported the management of a patient who had sustained a maxillary fracture in a motorcycle accident and subsequently developed a palatal fistula. By sharing video captured using the Flamingo camera, Dr Hunter was able to communicate the details of the case and receive guidance from the surgeon before repairing the defect.

Building Liberia’s dental workforce

While the clinical work at Trinity Dental Clinic helps meet immediate treatment needs, the longer-term focus is on expanding the dental workforce in Liberia. The Liberia Dental Therapy School trains dental therapists to provide essential care. By incorporating cases treated at the clinic into the students’ training, Dr Hunter can use his day-to-day work to support the education of dental therapists who will go on to provide care in Liberian communities where access to dental services is limited.