Derek Neary
Northern News Services

(June 03/05) -Deh Cho residents can open wide and show their pearly whites to Dr. Angelus Karmis.

He has been awarded the contract to provide dental service in the Deh Cho region.

Kathy Tsetso, CEO of Deh Cho Health and Social Services, said each community has a designated number of dental days based on aboriginal population. Karmis will offer a fee-for-service over and above that, she explained.

He said the total number of service days will range between 200-250, depending on the level of demand.

Karmis is living in Fort Simpson, whereas the previous contractor, Hay River Dental Clinic, used to travel in and out of the region, Tsetso noted.

His contract is for one year, she added.

She said it's a relief to have a dentist in the community because only serious dental emergencies are covered under the government's medical travel policy.

Karmis, who attained his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Alberta in 2001, worked in Fort Simpson, Fort Liard and Wrigley while employed with the Hay River Dental Clinic last year. He has also practised in the Baffin region and Thompson, Manitoba. In the Deh Cho, he will provide hygiene, fillings, dentures and basic wisdom tooth extractions and root canals.

"I wanted to be on my own and explore the possibility of building up my own practice," Karmis said of moving to Fort Simpson. "That's a nice feeling when people know you've made a commitment to be here for a while."