A recent mission trip to a women's maximum security prison in Xela, Guatemala will leave a local dental team with memories they won't soon forget.

Dental doctors, hygienists and Red River College (RRC) students from the local region and Winnipeg travelled to Guatemala's second largest city in mid July to perform treatments on women and children during a four-day trip.

RRC Instructor and one of the trip leaders Athena Wilford said 33 of the 76 women at the prison had applied for dental treatments, but once the team arrived, that number increased to 46, with an addition of multiple children as well. Wilford said many of the women had been serving lengthy terms, and had never received dental care before the team's stay.

All treatments, including fillings, cleanings and extractions had been completed by the end of the trip, she added. To accomplish these tasks there were three dental units with drilling, suction, water and air tools, which Wilford said were being used all the time.

Both Wilford and RRC dental assisting graduate Madison Smith agree the experience was immensely rewarding and humbling, adding that God was largely at the centre of the journey.

"When we put the boots on (the Gospel), and you go out there and roll your sleeves up, and you do what you're supposed to do - what Christ would do - it embeds in you as well as the people who may not understand that," said Wilford.

However, the trip was not as simple as it may seem, said Smith. She noted aside from the work itself, technical issues and the language barrier proved to be obstacles the team faced often, though they were able to overcome them by forming creative solutions, using translators and praying.

She explained one of the highlights for her from the trip was an encounter with one of the women.

"This one lady gave us a sign after that said, 'Thank you; God will repay you,' and it just gave me shivers knowing that we are making such an impact on these people's lives," she said.

Smith said the experience was not what she was expecting, but was an eye-opener nevertheless.