Appalachia Dental Project (Original Clinic)

You Don’t Have To Be a Dentist To Volunteer ... General Volunteers Welcome!

Join Global Dental Relief at our very first domestic clinic location! Surrounded by the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains, volunteers work in a rural community where 60% of children live without access to dentistry. The closest dentist is a two-hour drive, and many in the community lack both transportation as well as the resources to pay for care. Days are spent working in the clinic, while evenings are spent enjoying the local trails, mountain scenery and regional history in this bucolic setting.

Project Cost: $795 (based on double occupancy)

GDR will provide single rooms where possible upon request.

Please call our office for more information.

Working in collaboration with SmileFaith, a 501(c)(3) organization, volunteers provide dental care to children in and around Jenkins, Kentucky.

Volunteers stay in a home that has been converted into a guesthouse by SmileFaith for volunteers. The project lasts eight days, which includes: travel time to Kentucky, orientation and five days working in the dental clinic.

Project Dates

February 19 – 26, 2023
October 15 – 22, 2023
February 18 – 25, 2024
October 6 – 13, 2024

What’s Included?

Seven nights’ accommodations in the guesthouse
Three meals per day during the clinic
Celebratory farewell dinner
Signature GDR T-shirt and water bottle

Plus, you will get all this too:

A small group of 8 to 10 volunteers
The chance to make connections and create lifelong memories with new friends from all over the world
GDR Return Volunteer Discount on all future projects
Two GDR designated trip leaders
A GDR coordinator in the office to answer questions and ensure you are prepared for your trip

Project Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Jenkins. On arrival, meet your project leader and fellow volunteers. Overnight at the guesthouse in Jenkins. (-/-/D)

Day 2: Jenkins. Morning project briefing. Afternoon start working in the clinic. Overnight at the guesthouse. (B/L/D)

Day 3: Jenkins. Full day working in the clinic. Overnight at the guesthouse in Jenkins. (B/L/D)

Day 4: Jenkins. Full day working in the clinic. Overnight at the guesthouse in Jenkins. (B/L/D)

Day 5: Jenkins. Day off to explore the area. (B/-/-)

Day 6: Jenkins. Full day working in the clinic. Overnight at the guesthouse in Jenkins. (B/L/D)

Day 7: Jenkins. Full day working in the clinic. Overnight at the guesthouse in Jenkins. (B/L/D)

Day 8: End Jenkins. Depart today for your journey home. (B/-/-)

Physical Demands

Clinics are fast paced and include a moderate amount of physical activity each day. On our Jenkins dental project, you will need to:

Walk approximately 20 minutes daily (10 minutes each way) to and from the clinic site.
Be able to stand and/or walk (including climbing stairs) for approximately two hours at a time during sightseeing tours.
Sleep with some street noise
After orientation, be able to navigate the walk to clinic location and local restaurants.

What Partners Say

After my first GDR project I was sure to do this continuously no matter what! This is helping kids in need effectively. This is having enjoyable conversations with new friends. This is creating unforgettable memories. So in my specific case the letters GDR stand for the German Dentist Returns :)”

- Wolfgang Pfannenstiel, Dentist, Germany

What Partners Say

Global Dental Relief makes sure children are receiving continuous care and that clinics are run efficiently and with the highest ethical standards. They take care of every detail on your trip — I plan to volunteer with them for years to come!

- Darshani Khosla, Dentist, Texas

What Partners Say

Thank you Global Dental Relief! Nothing compares to the efforts and perseverance of your volunteer teams, working hard to bring healthy smiles to children.

- Carol Lim, Vice President of Business Development, Cranberry U.S.A

What Partners Say

I plan my whole year around these trips. I love travel with a purpose, being more than a tourist and making a small, positive mark in the world. This organization has allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and has really helped broaden my world view.

- TJ Gabriels, Lawyer and General Volunteer, New York

What Partners Say

As a dentist, I have treated and cared for many patients, however, nothing can compare to the sense of fulfilment when volunteering your time and skill to ease the pain and suffering of others. It never ceases to amaze me what can be accomplished when surrounded by dedicated, caring and talented volunteers, such as those I met in past GDR clinics.

- Michael Pasoff, Dentist, Montreal, Canada

What Partners Say

I am honored and grateful to help these amazing children, meet incredible people, explore their culture and change children’s lives for the better. I look forward to many trips with GDR in the future.

- Nour Shehadeh, Dental Hygienist, Illinois

What Partners Say

If you want to literally change lives, this is a great way to do that. Our work with Global Dental Relief produced more real good than all the other cumulative good works I’ve helped with through the rest of my life.

- Peggy Lamm, CEO Colorado Mesa University Foundation and General Volunteer, Colorado