Sir, thank you for publishing the article on Dental Project Peru printed in BDJ 2004, 196: 370. I was moved by Jacqui Nimmo's story of the people of the Apurimac region of Peru and inspired by her determination to relieve the dental suffering of the remote and needy village folk.

Her website www.dentalprojectperu.org added to my resolve to visit Peru and these remarkable people. I was not disappointed. Having recently returned from one of the six trips organised by Jacqui since your article, I can honestly say that it was one of the most rewarding and fascinating experiences of my career to date. Sharing the warmth and joyful nature of communities that have so little and being made welcome by rows of apprehensive yet friendly faces was a truly humbling experience. In one village where none of the mud houses were big enough to accommodate us and our portable dental chairs nor light enough for us to work, we opted to work outdoors with the llamas and awesome views across the Andies. This is a vision I have brought back to my surgery and serves to remind me of the diversity of cultures and the privileges that we sometimes take for granted. How different things could be! The ongoing plan to train local health care professionals in basic pain-relieving dentistry will help to make the project more sustainable. For any reader interested in this work or in donating towards it may I urge you to visit the website or the project.