Our Work
People in the Dominican Republic lack access to dental care
The Dominican Republic is a small Caribbean country that shares the eastern half of Hispaniola Island with neighboring Haiti. In the Dominican Republic, low – income families have limited access to health care and other basic services such as potable water, electricity, and reliable emergency services.
Our statistics show that, in the Dominican Republic, an average 5-year-old has 5 cavities and an average 12-year-old has 8 cavities.
A 37-year journey is changing the lives of millions
To improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged people in the Dominican Republic, Elina Katsman established Smiles Foundation and the Fundación para la Prevención y la Salud Bucal de Los Niños in 1987.
Smiles Foundation clinics offer a full range of treatments including prophylaxes, sealants, whitening, fillings, crowns, bridges, dentures, endodontic and orthodontic procedures, dental surgeries, simple implant treatments, and dental radiography.
Each one of our dentists can treat up to 15 children and 6 adults daily. Since 1987, over 6 million Dominicans have benefitted from our dental and educational services.
Testimonials
2023 Annual Report
- People impacted in 2023: 257,015
- Patients Treated: 110,276
- Patients Educated: 143,722
- Dental Auxiliary Program – 4 cycles – 167 graduates
- 3 Containers with in-kind donations shipped
Your support will enable us to expand our reach, alleviating the agony of toothache in underserved communities.