OCHO RIOS, St Ann — As early as 5:30 in the morning, Shakera Hamilton and her nine-year-old daughter Mareka Gordon were standing at the gate of Ocho Rios High School, eager to be added to a list of patients who would receive treatment from a group of dentists from Canada.

The service was being offered by Great Shape Inc under its 1000 Smiles initiative.

Over the next three weeks the non-profit organisation will be offering dental services such as extractions, fillings, cleanings and root canals to individuals in St Ann. Then they will head to Montego Bay, St James and Westmoreland where they will spend an additional five weeks.

Hamilton and her daughter both got extractions done that day.

“When I checked it out at the dentist, to remove my corner tooth is very expensive, so I’m feeling grateful to know that I can at least save that money to do something else. Especially now that it is back-to-school,” Hamilton told the Jamaica Observer.

She said she got word of the free dental clinic from her daughter’s school, Breadnut Hill Primary.

“I have to take advantage of this treatment and the doctors and everybody else are very warm and welcoming. I want persons to just come out and get their dental care, don’t be afraid because you should be proud to care for yourself,” added Hamilton.

Great Shape Inc was started by three women who lived in Oregon, United States of America, back in the 1990s when they journeyed to Jamaica, post-Hurricane Gilbert, to provide relief support.

According to president of its board of directors Dr CR Anderegg, the aim back then, was to help Jamaicans recover after the hurricane but it blossomed into something much more.

“It has turned into the largest humanitarian project in the US,” he said.

Great Shape Inc now has three branches. In addition to dental care, which is the largest, it also provides help in the areas of eye care and literacy.

Anderegg, a dentist in the US, has been journeying to Jamaica for the past 25 years to volunteer with Great Shape Inc’s 1000 Smiles.

“I get so much thank you, hugs and appreciation, it makes me a better person. I get more in return from giving. The people of Jamaica are amazing and I love giving to them in any way possible,” he told the Observer.

The reception in St Ann has been heartwarming, according to 1000 Smiles programme director Shantelle Clarke.

“Every day we have 200 to 300 patients lined up for treatment and we have no patients coming back so they are happy with the treatment. They have also been thankful because treatment is expensive in Jamaica,” she told the Observer.

All treatment is being offered free of cost and some patients are especially happy about getting root canals done. It is an effective alternative to extraction but it is costly.

“I’m happy that I can give back to Jamaica and the patients who go through here really have a need. We are also given the opportunity to educate them about dental health and give them the opportunity to have better smiles,” Clarke said.

Sandals Foundation has also played an important role in partnering with Great Shape Inc. The foundation have been accommodating and providing for the volunteers who journeyed from the United States and Canada for the dental clinic.

“We are so grateful to Sandals for helping us to make sure this initiative runs smoothly,” said Clarke.

Each week, at least 60 individuals come in to work in the dental clinic.

“They are all licensed professionals and they also went through the Ministry of Health and the Dental Council authorised everyone to operate in the country,” said Clarke who added that the team is looking forward to working in the western end of the country in the coming weeks.

“Each year we try to hit up different locations and we are looking forward to the experience of being in other parishes,” she said.

While in St Ann, the dental clinic will offer its services on weekdays, up to August 30.