Kathmandu, Nepal
Date: Flexible: Clinics are typically held in the spring and fall.
Partner: Global Dental Relief
Cost:
Dental Clinic + Everest Trek: $3,250 (based on double occupancy)
Dental Clinic + Bhutan Extension: $4,090 (based on double occupancy)
Clinic-Only Itinerary: $1,650 (based on double occupancy)
Estimated Airfare: $,200 – $1,600
Medical Setting: Temporary clinic set up in a school or community center.
Difficulty: Basic accommodations and inconsistent access to AC, hot water, and internet connection. Basic variety of food options.
Accommodations: Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu.
Cultural Experience: Volunteers enjoy daily cultural immersion, including dining on local cuisine and meeting the locals who help in the clinic. The trip offers optional sightseeing excursions around the city as well as the choice to extend to an Everest trek or a trip to Bhutan.
About Global Dental Relief:
Global Dental Relief’s mission is to bring free dental care to children around the globe, in Nepal, Guatemala, Mexico, Kenya, and Cambodia. 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. Each child receives an exam, all necessary dental care, oral health instruction, a fluoride treatment and a new toothbrush. Once dental health is restored, children return to the clinic every two years to ensure a childhood of healthy smiles.
Global Dental Relief programs extend this reach 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. Small cavities grow into serious decay and infection. Children in pain are unable to sleep, eat properly or pay attention in school. GDR volunteers restore children to bright smiles and an ability to thrive.
About the Medical Setting:
Working in partnership with local staff, volunteers work in a community room or classroom converted into a temporary dental clinic. Children aged 6-18 are brought in class by class from surrounding schools. Volunteers work in the clinic for six days, performing exams, amalgam and composite restorations, and extractions as needed. Forming 4-7 dental stations, clinicians work alongside an assistant who carries out normal chairside duties, including charting as well as instrument and suction support. Some assistants may be highly trained, and some may be relatively new to the role.
Global Dental Relief provides portable dental units and all the instruments and supplies necessary to perform restorations, extractions, sealants and preventive care. This includes scrubs and disposable items like gloves, masks, gauze, etc.
We treat primary teeth only in cases of abscess by doing an extraction. We do not fill primary teeth, instead devoting our limited time and resources to saving permanent teeth. Generally, global dental volunteers make a treatment plan for two quadrants and do 20-30 minutes of work per child. Children can return for a second or third visit to finish their treatment. The clinic leader is there to guide and support you and answer any questions you might have.
There is no X-ray in the clinic. If an X-ray is required to complete treatment, the child can be sent to a nearby hospital. Availability of this option varies depending on location.
Program Includes:
- 2-3 star hotel accommodation
- Two meals a day while working in the clinic and breakfast only on sightseeing days
- Translation and support from local staff
- All transportation within Nepal including airport transfers
- Sightseeing as listed in the project itinerary
- Celebratory farewell dinner
- Signature GDR T-shirt and water bottle
- Return Volunteer Discount on all future projects
- Two designated trip leaders
- A volunteer coordinator in the GDR office to assist and prepare you for the trip
About the Country:
The Kathmandu Valley is both a historical hub and place for spiritual worship surrounded by the stunning backdrop of the Himalayas. Beyond its temples and monuments, Kathmandu also thrives as a bustling city, with a lively street scene and colorful markets.
Adventure seekers and nature lovers flock to Nepal for trekking, hiking, and wildlife safaris in national parks. The stunning landscape offers unparalleled views of some of the world’s highest peaks.
Nepal faces a significant shortage of trained dental professionals, especially in rural areas. Most dentists are concentrated in urban centers, and remote villages often lack access to even basic dental services. In many areas, people may not fully understand the importance of oral hygiene or the long-term consequences of neglecting dental care. Without intervention, this lack of knowledge results in high rates of dental diseases.