Por 1 Sorriso: volunteer dentists provide free care in remote areas of Brazil

With a team of 45 people, 15 dental chairs, and much volunteer dedication, the NGO Por 1 Sorriso delivers free dental care to vulnerable populations in Brazil and Africa. Using approximately two tons of equipment transported by plane and truck, they reach remote areas to treat thousands of people yearly.

In 2024 alone, 16 actions have been planned, including root canals, surgeries, restorations, and more. Each action lasts a week and serves an average of 250 people, from infants to the elderly. Among the regions visited are Cariri in Ceará, towns in the Serra da Mantiqueira in Minas Gerais, and locations in Kenya and Mozambique in Africa.

“We set up dental offices in areas where people lack access to healthcare. We provide the best care possible, with chairs, digital radiology, prosthetics labs—everything needed to meet all the patient’s dental needs”, says dentist Juliana Fanaro.

Dentists Felipe Rossi and Marina Belo conceived the idea for the NGO after participating in a social initiative in Mozambique. For each campaign, the NGO partners with local organizations that provide the physical space for the treatments. Activities are organized annually to maintain regular visits to the areas served.

“We plan our actions to reach the most underserved areas because dentistry is an elitist and expensive profession. Unfortunately, even near large urban centers, people often lack access to care”, Juliana explains.

Free dental care

The NGO has provided care in 11 Brazilian states and is preparing to reach its 12th this year, with its first visit to Tocantins. All treatments are performed by a team of entirely volunteer dentists. Their commitment is the driving force that has kept the project alive for years.

“We generally conduct more than one action per month, often with just two to three weeks between campaigns,” says Juliana, a volunteer since 2017. She shares that she has always wanted to participate in social work within her field of dentistry. “We’ll only make the world a better place if each of us does our part”, she adds.

Transporting the equipment is another logistical challenge managed through partnerships. “Latam Cargo is our partner. We typically fly to the nearest airport and then travel by truck to the location. For example, we recently returned from Canudos. The nearest airport was in Aracaju, so the equipment flew from São Paulo to Aracaju and then traveled by truck to Canudos. It’s a complex process to ensure everything arrives where it’s needed”, explains Juliana, who also oversees the organization of the actions.

Volunteer dentists

Specialized in treating children and adolescents, Juliana emphasizes that the impact of these actions extends far beyond the treatments themselves. “The most important aspect is preventive work—educating patients—because they often lack access to this kind of information. When we treat and educate a patient, their family carries that knowledge forward.”

Juliana notes that cavities remain the most significant oral health issue in Brazil, often leading to premature tooth loss. “It’s not uncommon to see young people who have already lost several teeth due to cavities. I frequently perform root canals on baby teeth or even have to extract them”,  she says.

Dental loss often comes with reports of severe pain. In some cases, patients resort to extracting their own teeth without professional assistance or proper tools. Aesthetic issues also have severe consequences, making prosthetic replacement essential. “Many people struggle to find jobs or maintain a social life due to missing teeth”, Juliana warns.

For one smile

A lack of preventive information and basic hygiene items are the main factors contributing to oral diseases. For this reason, all of the NGO’s campaigns include the distribution of free hygiene kits containing toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, and dental floss.

“We’ve been treating the same children in Kenya since 2017, for example. Nowadays, when I return, all I do is clean their teeth. It’s a long-term effort that truly makes a difference. We plant seeds and later harvest the results”, Juliana says proudly.

“I deeply believe in the transformation our work brings. Rehabilitating a patient’s oral health can truly change their life in many ways. I’m very optimistic and, despite the effort—often greater than in the clinic—it’s something I’d do a thousand times over, with all my heart. This is how I contribute to transforming this reality”, she concludes.

Want to support this cause?

The NGO Por 1 Sorriso relies on the support of volunteers and partners to continue its incredible work. To become a volunteer, click here. To donate, click here. For more information, visit the website or follow them on Instagram and Facebook.