F.S. dentist helps residents on the island of Jamaica

January was a very busy month for Dr. Anthony Ienna, as he concluded his one-year term as president of the Nassau County Dental Society. The NCDS is the second largest dental society in New York State with over 1,500 member dentists.

The society had an eventful year with a record number of new dentists joining to take advantage of the many continuing education venues and community outreach events during the year. It was also a time of transition, with the interviewing and hiring of a new executive director, Jovanna Little.

Dr. Ienna also spent one week in Buff Bay, Jamaica, on a dental mission trip with fellow NCDS member Dr. John Lee, an oral surgeon; Dr. Albert Yoo, a fellow periodontist; Dr. Ariel Abramson, and Winthrop University Hospital dental resident Dr. Michael DeSivo.

The dental team saw 282 patients, completed 362 extractions, 45 dental restorations and one root canal. Patients started lining up early in the morning and wait all day to be seen, even if that they couldn’t be seen in the late afternoon.

This is the first time that a Winthrop University Hospital dental resident participated in the mission. Dr. Michael DeSivo was eager to help the people of Jamaica. In the 2013 and 2014 dental missions, a total of 14 Stony Brook University dental students participated.

The dental clinic is located in the Buff Bay Community Hospital, which has been mostly destroyed by hurricanes. Behind some of the buildings there are chickens feeding and goats grazing.

This is the fifth mission trip for Dr. Ienna. His wife, Tina, and his children have helped him on previous trips.

Dr. Anthony Ienna has been in the private practice of Periodontics and Implant Dentistry with Dr. Alex Pappas, with offices in Franklin Square and Rockville Centre. He is a graduate of Georgetown Dental School, a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, an assistant clinical professor of periodontology at Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine and serves as an attending at Winthrop University Hospital. But his favorite title is Dad to his children: Gabriella, Anthony, Joseph and Danielle.