What We Do
Simple Safe Sustainable
SmileHigh's mission is to reduce the level of dental caries in all Nepalese children living in remote communities which will in turn increase their standard of living. This mission is being achieved through education and preventative strategies and by applying the concepts of empowerment and sustainability and following the self-imposed criteria set out below:
Simple - in an environment with many challenging factors, including cold temperatures and high altitudes (our clinical work often takes place in centres and schools above 3500m, sometimes without power) it is paramount that we keep things simple.
Safe - it is our responsibility to ensure that all treatment is 100% safe for the children we are providing services to.
Sustainable - SmileHigh has a commitment to long-term success and the concept of sustainability is essential to achieving this success. In order to be sustainable in what we do, it must be simple and safe.
By focussing on education and prevention that is simple and safe our aim is to not only treat dental decay but reduce the occurrence of it in the first instance. Our clinical approach is to treat dental decay as a preventable and potentially reversible disease, using modern techniques, materials and technologies. SmileHigh uses the skills of qualified Nepalese dental therapists under the supervision of a fully qualified dentist (Dr Mingma Sherpa) to deliver our services. In this way SmileHigh is empowering local people to solve their own problems in a sustainable way.
SmileHigh dental professionals travel to remote areas of Nepal and set up a basic dental clinic. Every child is given a free examination followed by treatment where necessary, with a focus on saving primary second molars and permanent teeth. Fissure sealants are placed on permanent molars to protect from decay. Where complex and painful procedures are required, treatment is carried out at Dr Mingma Sherpa's Kathmandu clinic where local and general anaesthesia is available. All children are provided with free toothbrushes and fluoride toothpaste.
SmileHigh dental professionals also visit schools to provide oral hygiene instruction and diet education. The school visits are followed-up for maintenance, review and evaluation a further three times in a 12 month period. Visits to households are also made by our dentist and dental therapists if it is obvious from follow-up examinations of patients that there has not been a positive response to our treatment and advice.