National Dental Centre Singapore - NDCS Hippo Programme
Tibetan Buddhist Centre. 20th Anniversary . Giving Initiative .
Health Intervention through Preventive Programme in Oral Health Education
Nearly 1 in 2 children in Singapore experience tooth decay before kindergarten — and little ones often can't tell us where it hurts. Families from lower-income households can find timely preventive care out of reach. Project HIPPO supports the NDCS programme bringing preventive oral health education and dental care to 3,600 children aged 0–6 from lower-income families, in partnership with the NDCS Tooth Fairy Fund.
A 3-year initiative · July 2026 – June 2029 · Ages0–6
Why baby teeth matter
Two common misunderstandings keep children from getting the early care they need. Here's the truth.
A hidden toothache is the last place we look
What makes early tooth decay even harder is that young toddlers often can't voice their pain or tell us where it hurts. A child suffering in silence may simply seem fussy, tired, or off their food.
Untreated tooth decay causes severe discomfort, missed preschool days, and difficulty eating during the most critical developmental years — and children from lower-income families are often the least able to access early preventive care.
The good news: early childhood tooth decay is largely preventable — and prevention is exactly where Project HIPPO focuses.
Twenty years of community, giving back
In year 2026 - Tibetan Buddhist Centre marks 20 years of journeying together. As part of our anniversary, we asked where our support could fill real gaps and make a lifelong impact — and we chose to support NDCS's HIPPO programme as one way of giving back.
What your gift does
We are honoured to support the launch of the NDCS HIPPO programme — Health Intervention through Preventive Programme in Oral Health Education — providing dental support for 3,600 children aged 0–6 from low-income families, in partnership with the NDCS Tooth Fairy Fund.
Every gift creates lasting, generational change: children receive preventive oral health education and care kits, and their caregivers are empowered with the knowledge to protect their families' smiles for life. With prevention in place, fewer children need suffer dental pain, and dental emergencies can be avoided.
In the spirit of compassion inspired by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, we believe caring for the most vulnerable among us is not just charity — it is our shared responsibility.
Preventive oral health education for preschool children
Care kits with the essentials for healthy daily habits
Caregiver empowerment so good habits continue at home
Partnership with the NDCS Tooth Fairy Fund
Ways to give
In conjunction with the Tibetan Buddhist Centre's 20th Anniversary, we are rallying our community for our first Project HIPPO appeal, running 4 July to 30 November 2026.
Compassion is relief in action — let's turn our care into tangible relief before the appeal closes on 30 November.