Volunteer Your Skills
Dentists, hygienists, assistants, and dental students can volunteer their clinical skills on mission trips.
International Missions
Serving Around the World
Dr. Schubert Sapian has carried his dental skills beyond the walls of his practice — into communities around the world where access to care is limited.
International dental mission work is one of the most direct ways a dental professional can use their training to serve people in need. Dr. Sapian has participated in international dental missions, including documented service in the Philippines, and has shared what he learned from those experiences with the broader dental community.
What is a dental mission?
Dentistry Where It's Needed Most
A dental mission brings volunteer dental professionals — dentists, hygienists, assistants, and support staff — to communities that have limited or no access to regular dental care. In many parts of the world, dental pain goes untreated for years because there are no local providers, no affordable clinics, or no transportation to reach care. Mission teams set up temporary clinics, often in churches, schools, or community centers, and provide free screenings, cleanings, extractions, and basic restorative work to as many patients as possible in a short window of time.
3.5BPeople worldwide lack access to basic oral healthcare
90%Of dental disease is preventable with basic care
#1Dental pain is among the most common untreated health conditions globally
The Philippines
A Mission That Changed Everything
Dr. Sapian's most documented international mission work took place in the Philippines, including service in Mindanao. Working in a makeshift dental clinic in a remote mission setting, he encountered challenges that would ultimately inspire one of his most significant clinical innovations — the Sapian Root Remover System. The Philippines missions were not just about the patients served; they shaped the way Dr. Sapian thinks about clinical problem-solving, resourcefulness, and the purpose of dental training.
Read the full Philippines story →Academy of Dentistry International
Sharing Mission Knowledge With the Profession
In 2017, Dr. Sapian presented "Dental Mission Vision: Minimally Invasive Extractions" through the Academy of Dentistry International (ADI). This presentation drew directly from his mission experiences — specifically the challenges he encountered performing extractions in resource-limited environments — and introduced the techniques he developed in response. Sharing this knowledge with fellow dental professionals is itself a form of mission: multiplying the impact of what was learned in the field.
Presentation
"Dental Mission Vision: Minimally Invasive Extractions"
Academy of Dentistry International · 2017
How mission dentistry works
A Day in a Mission Clinic
- 1
Arrival & Setup
The team arrives at the host location — often a church, school, or community center — and sets up portable dental equipment, sterilization stations, and patient intake areas.
- 2
Patient Intake
Community members line up, sometimes having traveled hours to reach the clinic. Translators help with intake forms and triage. Patients are assessed for urgency and treatment needs.
- 3
Treatment
Dentists provide screenings, cleanings, extractions, and basic restorative work. In resource-limited settings, extractions are often the primary service — relieving pain that patients may have endured for months or years.
- 4
Patient Education
Volunteers provide oral hygiene instruction, distribute toothbrushes and toothpaste, and teach basic preventive care techniques that patients can continue at home.
- 5
Wrap-Up & Reflection
At the end of each day, the team reviews cases, restocks supplies, and prepares for the next day. Mission dentistry is physically and emotionally demanding — but deeply rewarding.
Get involved
How You Can Support Dental Missions
Dental missions depend on the generosity of professionals, volunteers, donors, and organizations who believe that access to dental care is a basic human need. Whether you are a dental professional, a student, or simply someone who wants to help, there are ways to get involved.
Donate Supplies
Toothbrushes, toothpaste, gloves, and basic dental supplies are always needed for mission clinics.
Support Financially
Financial contributions help cover travel, equipment, and supply costs for mission teams.
Pray & Spread the Word
Awareness and prayer support are meaningful contributions to any mission effort.
Interested in Dental Missions?
Contact Essential Dental Care to learn more about Dr. Sapian's mission work or to ask about upcoming opportunities.