Dental clinics for under-served and marginalized populations in Haifa and Tel Aviv
Background
Treatment of dental pain and oral health is essential for every person.
In Israel, there are some populations that are not eligible for dental treatment and cannot afford treatment. Treatment includes basic, primary dental care as well as emergency dental treatment.
The population of undocumented people, including children, the population of women in rehab and women and youth at risk are not eligible or cannot afford dental care.
NATAN is the only organization in Israel that provides dental care to these populations through volunteer dentists and dental assistants, in a mobile clinic that operates twice a month on average in Haifa in collaboration with a clinic and with the nonprofit VeAhavta Clinic https://www.veahavta-clinic.org.il/en
In the near future, a similar clinic will be opened in south Tel Aviv.
:
Impact
The clinic in Haifa has been operating since 2021 and works closely with the VeAhavta Clinic for people who lack official residency status, as well as women in rehabilitation.
The clinic equipment is portable, packed in wheeled carrying cases for easy transportation, can be assembled and disassembled quickly. Equipment includes a patient chair, a state-of-the-art self-contained dental treatment unit, an x-ray unit, and other equipment required for professional dental care. Every two weeks, on average, we set up the clinic and treat the people who are referred to us by non-profit organizations. The clinic is operated by volunteer dentists. Patients usually arrive in dire need due to long neglect and many problems caused by dental neglect such as persistent tooth decay. The majority of treatments are emergency care.
Following October 7, 2023, NATAN operated emergency dental clinics for evacuees. These clinics were established at hotels at the Dead Sea and in Eilat, where most of the evacuees were relocated. Over 3 months 90 volunteer dentists and dental assistants treated approximately 2,000 evacuees. Our experience in Haifa and our inventory of portable dental equipment enabled us to rapidly set up and operate the emergency clinics and to provide the highest quality of professional care to evacuees.
Impact (numbers)
- 6-7 volunteers who regularly operate the clinic: including set-up, management, documentation, clinic administration and recruitment
- Volunteer Dentists:
- The dental team: 8-12. volunteers with a partial replacement of the team over the years.
- Professional Director: Dr. Efi Carmi, DDS
- Patients: The clinic operates twice a month on average.
- 10-12 patients are treated every day.
- Approximately 10% of patients’ do not arrive for their appointments (typical for these populations)
- Patients per year: 200-220
Types of treatments: emergency treatments; fillings, dental extractions, treatment of infections, first aid.
