TMUSO Expands Global Healthcare Efforts with Dental Mission to Nepal

Guided by the principle “The purpose of service is to make the day come when no service is needed”, the team, formed by students and dentists from the TMU School of Dentistry and led by Assistant Professor Wu Yang-Che, provided oral health education, dental check-ups, and free dental clinics to underserved communities.

The Pokhara mission presented unprecedented challenges for TMUSO. In addition to issues such as unstable electricity and limited onsite facilities, language barriers also caused difficulties in oral health education, diagnosis, and treatment. But in spite of it all, with team members’ agile responses and close collaboration, they successfully set up dental equipment at all locations, ensuring that patients received comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. This experience not only strengthened team members’ adaptability and crisis response skills but also laid a solid foundation for future overseas medical missions.

Through overcoming environmental and equipment challenges, TMUSO visited many local schools and communities to provide expert dentalcare services to school children and economically disadvantaged individuals. These included 506 community residents who received dental check-ups and oral health education, and 283 patients who received expert dental care. For many in Pokhara, this mission marked their first access to professional dental care, helping to alleviate long-term suffering from untreated dental conditions.

The success of TMUSO’s Nepal mission is attributed to the professional dedication of its members and accompanying dentists, as well as the generous support from donors and partner organizations. Looking ahead, TMUSO is committed to expanding international healthcare efforts, improve the quality of free dental clinics, and reaching more remote communities with limited medical resources. By bridging healthcare gaps, TMUSO continues to work towards a future where everyone has access to optimal dental health.

After overcoming challenges related to the environment and equipment, TMUSO conducted oral examinations and treatments at the service site (left), and provided oral health education for children (right).