February 2008
The Most Unlikely Instrument
I have been a Mission Dentist in Madagascar since February of 2007. My wife and I have been living with only the things we brought in our suitcases since that time, because we believed our container would surely arrive quickly. One year later, we now know that our personal belongings will arrive sometime in the spring of this year, 2008, we hope.
When I arrived I looked at the tools available in the Dental Clinic, since many things were in disrepair and needed maintenance. I took one look at the tools and decided that I would try the Leatherman Micra for the repairs. From that day forward I have made major repairs on the air and water control boxes on each of the 16 year old ADEC Dental chairs in our Dental Clinic and rewired the Operatory Light in my room. I also have repaired Dental laboratory equipment using the Micra. These are not easy to do when you've never done them before and have usually called a Dental repairman for these types of repairs in the past, when I practiced in the USA.
I've accepted the challenge to repair the equipment here myself whenever possible. The Micra lends itself to repairs on Dental Equipment quite readily. I am quite surprised how many times it has been the tool of choice. The small size is an advantage since dental equipment is contained in tiny spaces or boxes and is well designed. Tiny flexible tubing needs just the right amount of nudging to slide onto the small metal tubes projecting from the control boxes. The scissors work very well to cut the tubing when an end is frayed and water is being sprayed all over the inside of a control box. The tweezers have come in handy in removing small gaskets. The things that used to bring things to a halt no longer do, because I can make the repairs. The ruler has come in handy many times to measure numerous pieces needed for a certain applications.
One of my most unique chairside uses on a patient was to remove a crown. To do this I had used my high speed hand piece and a metal cutting burr to cut the metal on the crown up one side and across the top and then created a purchase point under the crown that the sterilized Micra phillips tool just fit perfectly into and I gently twisted and lifted and voila! Off came the crown! The patient was delighted, and I was relieved, since I did not have a crown remover at the time and my other dental instruments would have been bent or fractured in the process.
On our return for our Annual Leave this last December, I was amazed at the new Leatherman styles available and picked out a Juice S2 as an additional multi-tool for use here in the Clinic. I have taken care to use the Micra in gentle, but firm manner so as not to bend any part beyond its limits. One trick I've used for loosening tight screws is to bend the Micra's handle to 90 degrees and that gives the extra torque that is necessary to loosen the screw. I am very glad I brought the Micra in my suitcase and have its useful tools in my hand.
I highly recommend the Leatherman since it is made in Oregon, by people that know you need more than lint in your pocket to get the job done.
Joseph B.
Madagascar (former Oregon resident)
OK, you voyeur, you. Enough of reading other people's stories. It's time you told your own tale of gripping heroism or even just neat DIY'ism. We know there's a Shakespeare in you somewhere. Don't make us use the Steens to find it.