Dental Volunteers for Israel is a nonprofit humanitarian organization providing comprehensive, high-quality dental care at no cost to people who face financial and social barriers to treatment.
Established in Jerusalem in 1980 by the late Trudi Birger, the organization has promoted oral health, dignity, and equal access to care for more than four decades. Its modern clinic serves children and young people ages 4–26, at-risk youth, socioeconomically disadvantaged older adults, new immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, and other vulnerable populations.
Services are provided according to need, without distinction based on religion, race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, citizenship, or background.
Patients are referred through an extensive network of municipal social service departments, schools, youth programs, shelters, absorption centers, community organizations, and nonprofit partners. These partnerships help identify people who would otherwise be unable to obtain the dental care they need.
For many patients, particularly children and at-risk youth, their first visit to the clinic is also their first meaningful introduction to preventive oral healthcare. Patients receive individualized treatment plans, regular follow-up, and six-month check-ups. Services include comprehensive examinations, oral-health education, dental-hygiene treatment, preventive care, restorations, extractions, root-canal treatment, and other treatment according to clinical need.
An International Volunteer Model
Volunteer dentists from around the world are central to the clinic’s model. They donate their professional expertise and usually volunteer for periods of one to two weeks, working at the clinic four days a week. International volunteers travel to Jerusalem at their own expense and receive the professional authorization required by the Ministry of Health.
They work alongside local dental professionals, bilingual dental assistants, hygienists, and administrative staff. This collaborative clinical environment allows volunteers to contribute directly to patient care while gaining meaningful experience in community-based dentistry and the oral-health needs of diverse and underserved populations.
The clinic also serves as a teaching and training center. Postgraduate residents and dental professionals participate in clinical rotations that strengthen their skills while exposing them to socially responsive and culturally sensitive models of care.
Clinical Impact
Each year, the clinic treats approximately 2,500 patients and provides more than 10,000 dental treatments. Beyond relieving pain and treating infection and disease, this care helps patients eat, sleep, speak, study, work, and participate more fully in daily life.
Dental Volunteers for Israel maintains a high standard of clinical care while operating through a cost-effective volunteer model. Support from international dental companies, foundations, professional organizations, and individual donors helps provide essential materials, equipment, and supplies. Funding is also needed for core operating expenses, including clinic maintenance, utilities, professional support staff, patient coordination, and volunteer administration.
Further Information and Support
Donations may be made through the organization’s international donation portal, with tax-receipt options available in several countries.