A DARLINGTON dentist has returned from South East Asia, where she provided dental training to local practitioners.

Dr Jo Daly, from Springs Dental Studio, in Yarm Road, spent two weeks in July on the small island of Timor Leste, helping with the training of the first dental practitioners on the island.

Dr Daly was part of a vocational training team which taught the class how to use their skills on patients, and helped to put in place a sustainable oral health plan for schools and orphanages.

The mission was organised by Dentaid, an oral health charity which helps disadvantaged communities around the world, after the World Health Organisation recently funded the training for the first class of dental practitioners.

When asked about her work with Dentaid and her work on Timor Leste, Dr Daly said: “I have been working on other outreach programmes for fifteen years but I have been doing trips with Dentaid for ten.

“I have travelled to Cambodia and India along with other countries but have raised money for the charity by doing events in America and China.

“It was hard work on the island as the people training had not had hands on experience before; we also showed them how to use the DentaidBoxes.”

Dr Daly goes on to say that they hope to get involvement from dentists in Australia and New Zealand as it is difficult for UK dentists to travel to the island.

She also says she hopes to go to Nepal with the charity next year.

The class is due to graduate next year and a Rotary International grant has been obtained which will help send several DentaidBoxes to the practitioners on Timor Leste.

DentaidBoxes have been designed to be a portable dental surgery and not need the use of electricity, with the majority of the population of Timor Leste living in rural areas, the boxes can used in most remote locations.

If you want to help Dentaid contact them at info@dentaid.org or call 01794-324249.

For more information, visit dentaid.org