DVI is providing free dentures to all low-income elderly and senior citizens aged 65 and up, including Holocaust Survivors and elderly from every community, in the greater Jerusalem area, for FREE.

The Need: Elderly people in Israel with NO ability to pay any type of co-pay have absolutely no access to dental care in Jerusalem, yet many of these people are Holocaust Survivors, and they have already suffered enough. According to the Jerusalem Municipality (2016 figures), there are 23,000 Holocaust Survivors in Jerusalem – out of this number, 7,000 are needy in some way and receive services from Welfare Services. Yes. This number of Survivors sounds high – and though correct, it is high – there is a disproportionate number of Holocaust Survivors living in Israel, and clearly, in Jerusalem. There is a total of 30,000 needy elderly in Jerusalem. DVI is now providing FREE dentures for the neediest of this population, and as with any work that DVI does, patients will be received regardless of race or religion.

•  DVI hired Dr. Sarit Palmon, an Israeli prosthodontist, with extensive experience in geriatric dentistry, to oversee the care and ensure that patients receive the best care and continuity of care.

• This project is running two shifts per week, and does not interfere with DVI’s work with at-risk children and youth.

• Needy elderly with only a few teeth or no teeth are being provided with free full and partial dentures, as well as denture repair, to fill the greatest need.

• As of 2018, volunteer dentists are performing preliminary treatment prior to dentures, including extractions, fillings, root canals, crowns, and surgery, under the supervision of Dr. Palmon; however she is personally responsible for all prosthodontic treatment that requires continuity of care, such as dentures and partial bridges.

• Three private foundations, including The Abraham and Sonia Rochlin Foundation, are funding this project, in dedicated funds that DVI would otherwise not receive.