Alameda Oral Surgeon Returns from Medical Mission Work in The Philippines

Alameda oral surgeon Wendy Liao, DDS, recently returned from General Santos – a highly urbanized city in the Soccsksargen region of The Philippines. The care team provided pro bono dental care to 1,739 students from local elementary and high schools, providing 510 extractions of severely decayed teeth and 952 fluoride/varnish treatments, as well as handing out free toothbrushes and providing dental hygiene demonstrations and education.

“Dental hygiene in The Philippines, especially in more rural areas like General Santos, is quite poor. Most dentists are located in urban areas like Manila, and most rural towns don’t have dentists at all. The people of The Philippines suffer from a very high tooth decay rate, especially in children, due to lack of care, lack of knowledge about dental hygiene, and a lot of dietary factors – like high sugar and heavily processed foods,” said Dr. Liao. “The nationalized healthcare system does not cover dental care, so most people wait until dental pain becomes unbearable and then rely on tooth extraction.”

Dr. Liao is the founder and head surgeon of Parkside Oral Surgery & Implant Center, an oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) practice located in Alameda, California. She is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, the highest credential that can be obtained in the specialty, according to the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

The trip was organized by the Phillips-Renner Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit that works to reduce inequities in nutrition, dental care, and education by delivering high-impact health services and products to children in need.

“Dr. Bob Renner and Purobi Phillips are the most dedicated leaders I have ever met. I am so thankful to have learned from them,” said Dr. Liao.

Dr. Liao’s brother and sister-in-law, both general dentists in the Bay Area, were also a part of the care team, along with her husband, daughter, niece and nephew.

“Having the opportunity to treat the people of The Philippines really gave me a sense of perspective. In the U.S., we often take high-quality dental care for granted, but it can make such a difference,” noted Dr. Liao.

“I feel honored that the children at each school we went to completely trusted our team. I’m particularly grateful that I got to serve this way with my family and friends. The two general dentists in our care team were my brother and my sister-in-law, and the other oral surgeon is a long-time friend. In addition, we all brought our families with us and drafted them in to help. Our children connected with the school kids. They were there to help with instructions and were ready to jump in when an anxious child needed a hand to hold.”

Dr. Liao is a long-time resident of the Bay Area, who grew up in Taiwan and earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley. She earned her DDS from UCLA and completed her OMS residency through Highland General Hospital of the Alameda County Medical Center.

Actively involved with a number of professional organizations, Dr. Liao is a member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the California Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. In addition, she is on staff at John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek. As a hospital staff surgeon, she treats patients who have experienced facial trauma from motor vehicle accidents, pathogens or violence.