During the second week I performed dental exams on children at the Akshay Pratishtan School in Vasant Kunj. I was guided by a phenomenal paediatric dentist, Dr. Deepti Khurana. She provided a tremendous amount of insight into managing children of all ages, but what I found especially valuable was seeing her approach to managing children with hearing impairment and cerebral palsy. The lessons I have learned from her will definitely help me in my future career. It was also interesting to do dental check-ups in a regular chair with a flashlight ... improvisation was at the order of the day, but it helped me appreciate the things I so easily take for granted here in Australia.

 

We managed to screen 62 children in two days. Twenty-one children with the most extensive plaque and calculus build-up were selected for debridement at a local dentist’s practice. The majority of these children had some level of mental or physical disability; and they were specifically selected because we felt they were most in need of assistance. The debridements were performed over two morning sessions. It was extremely rewarding to work with children that I would otherwise have been reluctant to treat. Dr Khurana was very encouraging and I was truly amazed at the results that can be achieved with the correct approach.

 

The rest of our time at Akshay Pratishtan School was spent giving Power Point presentations on oral health. Tooth brushing technique and instructions on flossing were given in small groups. Most of the children were very eager to brush the model’s teeth, however the product that attracted the most attention was floss! Very few students knew what it was and we even had a teacher coming to us after a demonstration asking about it.

 

I would encourage anyone who is fit and healthy, who yearns for adventure and is not deterred by crazy traffic and language barriers to consider volunteering in India. Before my departure the doomsayers had so many warnings ranging from the dreaded Delhi-belly to abductions and forced marriages. Personally I found that as long as vigilance and common sense prevail there really is little to fear. The bottom line is that this outreach offers an opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives. Take on the challenge ... you know you want to!