Dr White has just returned and praised the work being done by the joint project, run by Rotary Australia World Community Service, Lions Club and the Carmelite nuns. She said some of her patients there had never seen a dentist.

‘Our main aim was to relieve pain. Some teeth would have been sore for months if not years,” Dr White said.

‘Betel nut chewing is still a big problem in the Maliana district. Traditionally toothache has been eased by chewing Betel nut but that can cause cancer of the mouth and oesophagus. So eliminating toothache will reduce the risk of oral cancers.’

Dr White met up with her team – three dentists, one nurse, two translators – in Dili , where they picked up equipment and dental supplies. They through Baliabo to Maliana near the West Timorese border; a  bumpy drive of over six hours.

“In the first week, we worked in three places; the Maliana hospital, a school, and a village – Cailaku –  that had never seen a dentist,” she said

“In the second week, we spent three days in Bogoro School with 900 students and two days at Maubara clinic, which is a room In the Carmelites convent. At the clinic the local dental nurse Nico screened all the children, we just had to do extractions and fillings. 

“Overall we saw 1,261 children and extracted 527 teeth; only three refused treatment and ran away or cried. We filled 406 teeth and did a few scales and prevention on teeth fissure seals.”

Dr White said she hoped to return to Timor Leste.