ADVENTURING THROUGH MONASTERIES IN PHARPING, NEPAL:

A DENTAL VOLUNTOURISM OPPORTUNITY

By Leah Grygleski

In November of 2022, 10 women sat down for dinner at a guesthouse in the small mountain town of Pharping - one hour outside of Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu. The conversation was centered around their first day of volunteer work that morning, in a makeshift dental clinic set up inside the Adzom Monastery. The team had a big day - after setting up four dental operatories, each complete with a portable dental unit powered by a compressor and a full stock of instruments and supplies - the group got to work treating dozens of children who lined up in front of the monastery to receive care.

The group would spend their next five days in this routine, working long but fulfilling days in this field clinic providing dental care and oral health education to local children aged 6-18.

The clinic was hosted by Global Dental Relief (GDR), a Denver-based non-profit organization that brings dental care to children in need in Nepal, Kenya, Cambodia, India, Guatemala, Mexico, and Kentucky, USA. The organization achieves this by hosting dental and general volunteers to deliver care. Volunteers come from all over the world to work, united by a common mission to serve the underserved.

This area of Nepal is set in a lush valley, surrounded by high Himalayan peaks and peppered with a number of opulent monasteries. Although not frequented by tourists, Pharping is a place of profound significance for Buddhists and Hindus, hence the high number of elaborate religious temples.

Nepal faces a major public health problem that is not uncommon among developing countries – a devastatingly high rate of oral disease and tooth decay. Poverty, lack of education, and lack of access to health care all contribute to this problem.

Under GDR’s Model of Care, children are brought into the clinic classroom-by-classroom, chaperoned by a teacher or sometimes principal. During their visit, they are taught proper brushing techniques, good oral health habits, how a cavity is formed, and even which foods promote positive oral health. They are given a toothbrush to keep and then line up to wait for the dentist. They approach the dental chair curious but hesitant; for many of them, this is their first-ever visit with a dentist.

The organization’s volunteers work to complete all care needed for each child, calling them back later in the week for a second or third visit if necessary. Geraldine Webb, a general volunteer from the UK, recalls with admiration a 15-year-old boy whom she treated with her traveling partner Penny Harris, DDS. The boy required such extensive dental work on all sides of his mouth that he was called back three mornings in a row. Remarkably, he showed up each morning with a smile on his face, especially on the last day when he left the clinic with a heartfelt ‘thank you.’

The approach to treatment the non-profit uses is two-fold and places importance on both restorative and preventive care. In addition to any extractions and fillings the child needs, each child is given a fluoride treatment and reinforced oral health education before leaving the clinic. Once dental health is restored, children return to the clinic every two years to ensure a childhood of healthy smiles. This has contributed to a notable improvement in children who regularly visit the clinic.

Clinics are run by two experienced leaders from the nonprofit organization, who ensure a smooth and fulfilling experience for each volunteer. In any given group, there are up to 5 dentists, 2 hygienists, and 10 additional support staff in the form of dental students, formally trained assistants, or non-medical volunteers. Just like a dental office in the US, it takes a lot of help in addition to dental professionals to manage roles like sterilizing instruments, patient intake, and maintaining thorough and organized records. Dr. Harris and Mrs. Webb, together with their fellow volunteers, treated 824 children during the five-day clinic, providing $181,180 in donated dental care (US equivalent).

This style of trip is called a Small Adventure Clinic, a unique opportunity for return volunteers to immerse themselves deeply in the host country - sleeping, dining, and working out of a monastery, and receiving support in the clinic from local monks and nuns. Dr. Penny and Geraldine noted how inspiring the scenery is in Pharping, in awe of the morning sun sparkling off the roofs of tall monastic structures. The group agreed that this is a superior way to travel over traditional touring – leaving with lifelong connections and a feeling of gratitude and fulfillment. Geraldine says these trips leave her with “the fantastic feeling that you have made a difference, which is, after all, why we volunteer.”

If you’re looking for a deeper connection with dentistry, an opportunity to see the world like never before, and to make a visible difference in the lives of wonderful children, GDR and their global community of volunteers and supporters encourage you to look no further.

About Global Dental Relief

GDR’s mission is to bring free dental care to children around the globe, in Nepal, India, Guatemala, Mexico, Kenya, Cambodia, and Kentucky. Teams of volunteer dentists, hygienists, assistants, and general volunteers deliver treatment and preventive care in dental clinics that serve children in schools and remote villages. Participants pay their own travel expenses and volunteer their time and expertise.

The organization’s programs extend their reach of care by delivering toothbrushes and oral health education in schools between clinics and by providing critical nutrition to children in high-need situations.

Why Dental Care For Kids?

Many children globally live without access to dental care since local dentists are few and the cost of care is financially beyond reach. A child with a healthy mouth is more likely to have a healthy life. Without dental care, a small area of tooth decay could remain untreated, growing each year until it becomes infected and inflamed.

This infection and chronic pain affect a child’s ability to sleep at night, eat properly, or stay alert in class. Over time, they lose their smiles, self-esteem, and ability to thrive.

For many children, Global Dental Relief volunteers provide the first dental care and oral health education of their young lives. During a clinic visit, each child receives a comprehensive exam, all needed dental care, a fluoride treatment and a new toothbrush, and oral health instruction.

It is the organization’s mission to restore children to bright smiles. Most importantly, the children stay under the organization’s care and are called back to the clinic every 2 years until they are grown up.

About the author

Leah graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in Marketing and Communications before she moved to Colorado in 2020. Wishing to work for a strongly mission-driven nonprofit, she discovered Global Dental Relief and quickly realized she could combine two of her dearest values: traveling and helping people. Leah is the Outreach Manager and Country Coordinator for the organization, working with her team to host around 300 international volunteers annually.