Dentistry recently brought Dr. Alison Han of Redmond and Dr. Baptista Kwok to the heart of the Himalayas and its people, with the Himalayan Women and Children Foundation, founded by A.C. Sherpa.

In Salleri, the district headquarter of Solu Khumbu, the doctors set up a mobile dental clinic at Sherpa’s house and treated 543 patients of all ages in 2006 and 723 patients in 2007.

The next volunteer trek is scheduled for next month.

With the majority of the population living below the poverty line and with only one medical clinic serving a population of 119,901, the need for dental care in Solu Khumbu is great.

“Usually, the local people have to fly or walk to Kathmandu to procure adequate dental care since the local nurse isn’t capable of doing extractions or other dental treatments,” said Han. “Most of these people do not have the monetary support to pay a Kathmandu dentist or airfare, so they are accustomed to living with dental pain and abscesses.”

Prior to the opening of the mobile dental clinic, the Himalayan Women and Children Foundation used radio broadcasting and word-of-mouth to promote the project and some patients walked for three to five days to seek dental care.

“We treated dental abscesses, caries, fractured teeth and periodontal diseases,” said Han. “Many days we worked past sunset and into the dark.”

In addition to treatment, free toothpaste, toothbrushes, antibiotics, ibuprofen and floss were provided to patients.

For information on how you can help the Himalayan Women and Children Foundation, call (206) 324-9000 or visit www.himalayansherpa.com.

Dr. Alison Han practices at Essence of Dentistry, 7810 Brown St. #103; (425) 885-0200 or www.essenceofdentistry.com.