A WEST?Devon dentist is visiting some of the most remote parts of India to share his expertise.

Dr Simon Channing, co-owner of Chagford Dental Practice, will visit the country in October. Travelling as a team of six, he will visit Aranuchal Pradesh, an area of North East India that sees few tourists or visitors from outside India.

Simon is preparing to carry out dentistry work as none of the villages in the area have access to conventional modern dentistry.

He said: 'Oral health is not a major priority with the indigenous people but dental disease and the subsequent pain if left untreated is still prevalent. I am going to take with me some emergency dental materials and instruments so that I can help out.

'Our team leader John Edwards has been to this area several times before and has seen first-hand the dental problems some of these people are experiencing. He asked me to travel prepared so that I can help.

'The main issue is language. But with an interpreter and modern gentle dental technique it is amazing what can be achieved and the difference it can make to these people. Aesthetics are not a concern to them, but getting rid of pain certainly is.'

Simon has experience working in difficult conditions abroad. He was involved with a dental charity in Romania in the 1990s, where he performed dentistry in orphanages. When he lived in Australia, Simon worked with the flying doctor team, visiting aborigines in isolated areas.

Simon returns to Chagford Dental Practice, which also has patients from the Tavistock area, in early November, hoping to have fitted in some photography and fishing alongside his dental work during his time in India.