Course topics:
	The practical part of the course is held in the dental clinic of St. Francis Referral Hospital in Ifakara. The clinic consists of three treatment chairs that are simple but well adapted for the tropical conditions. Normally three dental therapists are working on 35 to 50 patients daily. Nearly 80 percent of their work is extractions because of the deep decays they find in their patient's mouths. The remaining 20 percent are fillings with composite or amalgam, and sometimes root canal treatments. In addition to this, the dental therapy also involves severe dental abscesses due to infections or jaw fractures because of accidents.
	Course participants have the chance to see and treat many surgical cases within a short time. They are introduced to local methods by African therapists and invited to learn by practising these methods on their own. The African therapists, the SDI delegates and the external consultant from Zurich University are at the same time both teachers and colleagues. Participants may perform extractions, abscess incisions and in the case of jaw fractures, wire-fixations.
	In the morning, all patients will be screened and the cases will be discussed before treatment starts. After all treatments are finished in the afternoon, the cases will be reviewed.
	On some days the dental team will organize surveys to surrounding schools, so that participants will get an idea and some experience about dental prophylaxis in rural african areas. To get further information about the state of Tanzanian dentistry, SDI will also be organizing a one day symposium at the University of Dar Es Salaam. SDI also has an arrangement with Dr. Muhimbili, who runs his own dental practise in the city of Dar, where he also offers even implants and fixed orthodontic procedures.
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