Our History:

Spice Isles Smiles received official designation as a 501(c)(3) in July 2020, but our history, work, and data date back to 2001. That year, our founder and current president Brian Holmes DMD FAGD began dental outreach to two local K-6 grade schools on the Central Oregon Coast. Dental screenings were performed on 658 kids, toothbrushes and toothpaste were handed out, and oral hygiene instructions were given. It was noted that 89% of these kids had dental caries. The following year these efforts were repeated, and the screenings revealed that there was still an 89% decay prevalence. Doctor Holmes realized that without a more aggressive approach, nothing would change. He soon partnered with Medical Teams International, who provided the use of a mobile dental van. Working with school administrators and parents, Doctor Holmes and his staff began a program providing dental restorations, extractions, and dental sealants to reduce decay. Dental sealants can reduce dental decay on the occlusal surface of permanent molars by 70%. After providing multiple annual visits to these schools, the decay rate dropped to 10% within 9 years. Charitable dental services have been provided to over 7200 children from Gold Beach to Waldport as part of this outreach program.

In 2012, Doctor Holmes answered a request to be the first western trained dentist to travel with The Tandana Foundation to provide medical and dental care to five rural villages surrounding Otavalo, Ecuador. Here, Dr. Holmes instigated a program based on decay prevention and provided the portable dental equipment for these clinics. Dental work was done mimicking the local work previously described. He returned each year from 2012-2017, where, in addition to providing dental care, he trained other volunteers and local dental providers in this program centered around prevention. After 5 years, the decay rate had decreased over 60% in the 475 K-6 grade kids screened and treated annually. Dr. Holmes credits the Tandana Foundation with helping him realize that small dental clinics using portable equipment could be set up anywhere. This experience also solidified that focusing on prevention, substantial positive increases in oral health could be achieved.

In 2017, aided by his friend and Spice Isle Smiles board member Otis Wade, Doctor Holmes and his team of US and local volunteers provided 10 days of portable dental clinics to three K-6 grade schools along the northern coast of Grenada, West Indies. Bringing dental instruments, supplies, and portable equipment in a total of 8 suitcases, the beginning of Spice Isle Smiles started taking shape. Beginning with a decay prevalence of almost 95%, Doctor Holmes knew the program he established back in 2003 would be successful at these schools in Grenada. Again, working with local dental volunteers would be the key to success. Relationships were also developed with government officials. After the third annual visit in 2020 to these schools, a 42% decrease in decay was recorded. That year, our volunteers logged 1005 hours, and 103 restorations and 2735 sealants were placed. Each year 635 kids were treated. The friendships formed with the kids, school staff, and community members is invaluable! In 2022, a fourth school will be added to the itinerary.

Spice Isle Smiles now has a board of 11 members and an executive director. To mention the background of just a few of our members- one is a corporate accountant/auditor, one is legal counsel for the IRS, and one is a fiscal analyst for the State of Oregon Health Authority. Doctor Holmes has been in private dental practice for 29 years.