By ShaLyse Walker

Dr. Greg Swartz comes from a rich background in dentistry. So much so in fact, he called his dental practice “Doc and Doc Dental” after his dad and great-grandfather, who paved the way in dentistry—practicing for over 50 years throughout their careers. Based in Winston Salem, North Carolina Dr. Swartz wanted to keep his father and his great-grandfather’s professional legacy alive.

Memorabilia on display in Dr. Greg Swartz’s office from his father and his great-grandfather’s long careers in dentistry that laid the foundation for his desire to pursue the profession.

With a set of grown twin daughters, his wife Jan, and even grandchildren (one of which is looking toward dental school), it might sound like Dr. Swartz has a pretty full life; but about 20 years ago, Dr. Swartz knew he wanted to do more.

Greg Swartz, DDS

Dr. Greg Swartz and his beloved wife Jan, enjoying a meal together in North Carolina, where he practices dentistry when he’s not in Rwanda performing humanitarian dental work.

That’s when he found an opportunity to travel to Rwanda through his church—The Church of God, A Worldwide Association. The first year, he did general humanitarian work. Then a couple of years in, Dr. Swartz made connections with government officials to procure a space to see patients in a nearby hospital, and he got to work offering free dental cleaning and dental work to underprivileged Rwandans. At that time, the Rwandan people were fresh out of a terrifying, traumatizing, and destructive civil war that left many dead, and many more injured, sick, without homes, without family, and without crucial health and dental care.

Advertising dental services first through their church, and then through word of mouth at the hospital, it wasn’t long before Dr. Swartz’s yearly two-week mission trip was filled from morning to night with patients eager to be seen. The best part? Many of them throughout the years have become consistent, repeat patients.

A few church members relaxing after Sunday services in Rwanda. Many of the church’s members make up Dr. Swartz’s regular patients when he’s in Rwanda on humanitarian dental trips.

When asked what the most impactful procedure he performs on his mission trips to Rwanda is, Dr. Swartz says, “I think the procedure, as simple as it sounds, that makes the BIGGEST impact on people’s lives is being able to clean their teeth on a consistent basis—or at least a more consistent basis than what they’d normally get, which is sometimes once a year—but you wouldn’t believe the difference it makes in their long-term oral health.” He adds, “I also love being able to do a root canal when someone really needs it, because it means it will be taking that person out of pain, which is very fulfilling.”

While in Rwanda, Dr. Swartz performs everything from root canals, to routine cleanings, to cyst removals, depicted above.

In fact, Dr. Swartz sees a group of about 40 people from a nearby town called Ziti every single year for cleanings. On a recent trip, his group of seven volunteers (another dentist from Guatemala, two dental hygienists, three volunteers to teach English, and others) were able to visit with the people in Ziti. Dr. Swartz said, “It’s amazing how fulfilling it has been to see how much better health they have from seeing us regularly throughout the years. In fact, when we visited them in Ziti and saw them in comparison with their neighbors, who we unfortunately hadn’t had the opportunity to treat, the difference was remarkable. The group we had treated consistently for years were just so clearly healthier all around. It was incredible to see, and it made me wish we could reach even more of the population—but we do our best to see as many people as possible every trip that we go.”

Restorative dental work as seen on the patient above help Dr. Swartz’s Rwandan patients access better economic opportunities for themselves and their families, while improving their oral health.

Those trips to Rwanda, when counting his most recent one this past July, now equal out to 18—as they had to take three years off during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Dr. Swartz doesn’t see an endpoint in the near future. “Thanks to donations from people like Ultradent Products, as well as funds from a group called FOI (Foundation Outreach International), we’ve been able to expand our volunteer group, obtain three operatories in different sites around the city, and continue to return year after year. I hope someday I can take one of my grandchildren to carry on the work.”

A suitcase stuffed to the gills with donated dental products—much of it from Ultradent Products, Inc., who are proud to support Dr. Swartz in his humanitarian efforts.

This before and after photo depicts one of the many dental transformations Dr. Swartz and his team provide to the people of Rwanda that otherwise they may not have the economic means to access.

Every year at the end of the trip, the group takes a couple of days to see new sites around the country. For example, they hopped over to Akagera National Park from their humanitarian home-base of Kigali (the capital and largest city in Rwanda) to see Africa’s famous wildlife. But it’s not the excursions, the wildlife, or the stunning scenery that keeps Dr. Swartz coming back.

In addition to humanitarian work, Dr. Swartz takes in the unique wildlife watching that working in Rwanda offers, such as watching these Rhinos in the wild.

 He says, “What going to Rwanda year after year does for me is it makes me a more grounded, better person with a larger and better perspective on the people of the world. That’s the gift that Africa and its people have given back to me, and it keeps me wanting to go back. It’s so fulfilling and it’s a way that I feel like I can make a small difference.”

Another life-changing smile transformation performed by Dr. Swartz while in Rwanda.

To learn more about Ultradent Products’ humanitarian support of independent missions, as well as our humanitarian donations and work around the world, click here.