TLDP Team 1. May 2026
This year would be our third year in a row that we have travelled to Oe-cusse. Previously we have driven and flown, however the authentic travel experience is to take the overnight ferry and so we embarked.
Of course, prior to the day there has been a lot of planning. Dr Mary had organised stock to be transported into Timor Leste, customs documents lined up and messages to Oe-cusse to organise accomodation. Judite and Ana Martins had taken the Troopy to Maubara to fully load it with our portable equipment and materials. Tickets procured and last minute snacks for the trip tucked under our arms we all met at the Dili docks on a sunny Friday afternoon.
We chose the balcony cabin with lovely views over the slowly moving coastline however our Tripadvisor review will note that there was no choice of pillows and in fact, our beds were missing. Not to worry, our fellow travellers kept us amused (and our mind off the steel deck) with impromptu sing-alongs and all night UNO card games.
All things must pass and the next morning we off loaded the Troopy, commandeered a Tum Tum and made our way to the Carmelite Sisters residence , to be our home for the next two weeks.
Using the same church hall from our previous trips, a well oiled machine sprang into action, unloading and setting up the 3 portable chairs, plumbing the compressor to the dental units, organising the position of the portable suctions and ultrasonic cleaners. Students from the nearby school delivered various tables to lay out the stock and equipment.
Every trip to Oe-cusse starts with a visit to the local health authority to present our credentials and get the approval of the Director of the hospital. Our Carmelite hostesses chaperone us through this process and then we get to meet the hospital dental team. The Directors wish this year was that his dentists be able to work with us to gain some skills and have the opportunity to use equipment and materials they might not usually have access to. Having extra man power was a blessing as our small team needed some scout nurses to work efficiently.
We settled into a steady routine, opening the doors to the assembled patients at 8.30am, assessing and numbering the throng, also visiting the nearby school to screen and walk back those needing treatment. Lunch was taken from about 12.30 to 2pm with those patients not seen in the morning having first preference after lunch. Last patients were seen around 5.30pm and then another 30 minutes or so cleaning and preparing the surgery for the next day.
It was heartening to see the improvement in the oral health of the students from the nearby school. For the last two years we have concentrated our efforts on this large school with noticeably less numbers of children needed acute treatment.
It must also be noted the competence of our Timorese colleagues, working with the various TLDP teams over the years has enabled them to become well rounded clinicians, using their initiative and helping each other to maximise our efforts in Timor Leste.
Team One…………………………………Oe-cusse
- Total number of patients examined 468
- Extractions 341
- Restorations 507
- Silver Fluoride Tx 123
- Scaling 95
After two weeks it was time to pack up our equipment and repeat the travel process back to Dili. We were able to leave some much needed instruments and anaesthetic with the local dentists and we hope to send them a necessary suction device in the near future.
A final goodbye to our Carmelite friends with promises to return next year.
Timor-Leste Dental Program 