Saving Smiles

Spiti has limited access to basic diagnosis, treatment, and medications. Regular medical treatment isn’t a given, as it ideally should be. Resources are minimal and healthcare facilities are located far away. Families visit doctors only when medical conditions deteriorate. Under these circumstances, Oral Health is the last thing on many people’s mind and dental care is largely ignored.

Little to no emphasis is given to dental hygiene. The result? Adults lose most of their teeth to cavities in their 40’s. Children experience tooth decay even before their permanent teeth come out. People avail the limited dental facilities only in extreme conditions, which mostly results in tooth extraction.

We believe that quality healthcare should be accessible, affordable, and available to everyone. To realize this vision, MUSE (our NGO arm) along with Ecosphere undertook a detailed Oral Health Assessment in 2019 and found an urgent need of providing Dental Care Services and Oral Health Education in the valley. 

In 2021, we initiated an Oral Health Program in Spiti Valley holding awareness and treatment camps in every village of Spiti with the objective to improve Oral Health and Hygiene. 

In 2023, we established the MUSE Chartiable Dental Clinic in Kaza, Spiti to create consistent access to quality and affordable dental treatments for the entire region. During the months from November to April outreach camps are held in other rural and urban marginalised communities where access to oral health awareness and treatments is poor. 

We’re looking for passionate and committed dentists/ dental students as volunteers / interns who want to participate actively in our dental camps and clinic.

This is an opportunity to gain first-hand experience working in on-ground medical programs, especially those that are contextual to the needs of remote mountain communities.

Your role would include:

• Assess patients, prepare case sheets, OPD & scheduling patient appointments.
• Assist our Dentist 
• Perform regular Fillings, Scaling, Digital X-Ray, basic extractions & RCT under the supervision of our Dentist.
• Prepare RPD, CD etc as need be.
• Maintain patient-wise, village-wise records of each camp 
• Assist in inventory management, record keeping and maintenance
• Assist with documentation, data collection, photographs etc.
• Support our Dentist in activities such as Oral Health awareness/education sessions
• Help with camp set up, management and coordination.