Dental-Medical-Wintertour 2013-12

Dr.dent. Daniel Hess 15 March 2014

KHCP-Dental-Medical-Wintertour 2013-12 to New Delhi, Takdah/Darjeeling and Kalimpong/India

Our team – three dentists and four helpers – arrived at Delhi International Airport on December 1st. After a short stay at K.I.B.I (Karmapa International Buddhist Institute) which essentially served to pick up and to control the dental units and the various dental materials and instruments, we continued our trip to Bagdogra (Northwest Bengal).
Before our departure, we got a most wonderful blessing by H.H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa in combination with various good wishes for our mission. What a beautiful beginning of our tour!

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Gyalwa Karmapa and the KHCP-team

Dental-Medical-Camp in Kalimpong/India
A first impression of India we got from the journey by jeep from Bagdogra to Kalimpong: overcrowded, colourful, chaotic, noisy, dusty – full of contrasts! The monks in Shamarpa’s Buddhist research and educational Institute have been waiting for us, and they welcomed us in a very friendly way and we got simple and convenient rooms in the guest house of the monastery.
The first day after our arrival we installed our dental clinic and we started our work. During the next three days we performed very well and effectively the dental check-up of all monks and reported the various treatment needs: extractions, fillings, professional tooth cleaning and fluoride application.
In addition, all monks got instruction in proper oral hygiene, and for the very first time in the history of the KHCP Dental Cares, controlled application of a fluoride varnish was performed to optimally protect the monks’ teeth against carious disease.
After having completed the dental treatments on monks, we extended our therapy to lay people and civilians.

KHCP-team and the students of Shedra (Buddh.University) of Kalimpong

The work in numbers:

Venue: Shri Divakar Vihara, Shedra (Buddh.University) of Kalimpong/Westbengal/India (1170m asl)
Date: Dec 03-11, 2013
88 people examined
15 teeth extracted
67 fillings done
25 professional cleanings completed
hygiene and dental instructions

Basical checkups

Dental treatments - one of the two working units

Dental instructions and exercises

Dental-Medical Camp in Takdah/Darjeeling

Our next destination was Takdah, a Buddhist school of Shamar Rinpoche for young monks aged between 5 – 12 years.
At our big surprise and joy, the monks had prepared an open-sky-treatment-place including a central area in which a giant white umbrella protected us against too heavy insolation! As the weather conditions were fine, we ran our camp totally outside, even in the evening when the temperatures dropped significantly. Treatments were given to monks and civilians, and all the monks got hygiene instructions and group prophylaxis.
At the end of our stay at Takdah, as a sign of gratitude and generosity, the monks invited us to a tea party with singing and dancing – what a fun!

The work in numbers: