Local Volunteer Opportunities

SCCDS is located in one of the most affluent areas on Earth. Despite this, many individuals in our community are in desperate need of dental care. Here are opportunities to help close to home.
Current Opportunities
Bay Area Dental Expo:
The Bay Area Dental Expo is returning to Santa Clara convention Center on August 22nd-23rd, 2025
We’re currently seeking volunteers to assist us in making this event a success! As a thank you for sharing your time with us, volunteers are welcome to attend the Expo during the times they are not otherwise committed. Volunteers will also be asked to attend one mandatory Orientation session in the evening the week of the Expo. More details to follow.
Give Kids a Smile In-School Screenings:
SCCDS has participated in the Give Kids a Smile program for over 20 years. We’re now excited to be partnering with Healthier Kids Foundation to provide screenings to elementary-aged students throughout Santa Clara County and throughout the entire school year! Volunteering has never been more flexible. Set the frequency and areas that work well for you and start making a difference today!
Licensed Dentists – Click Here to Get Started
For all others, please contact Healthier Kids Foundation directly by emailing info@hkidsf.org
*Please be aware that due to recent events, schools require additional identity verification processes in order to provide on-campus screenings. More information is available through Healthier Kids Foundation
Volunteers Needed at City Team Dental Clinic: The pandemic forced the City Team Dental Clinic to close for over a year. In order to reopen, more volunteers are needed. They need more dentists, hygienists, and dental assistants. The clinic is open on Saturdays, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Volunteers do not need to stay for the whole time. Any time you can offer is gratefully accepted.
The City Team Dental Clinic in North San Jose serves individuals suffering from homelessness toxic dependency. Using the three available dental chairs, volunteer dentists treat people living in the City Team Ministries recovery facility, all of whom are vaccinated. Volunteer dental professionals provide basic dentistry, prophylaxis, fillings, extractions, partial and full dentures, and some endodontic therapy in the anterior teeth, all at no charge. Future plans include resuming treatment for the homeless.
To volunteer, please call the Dental Society, at 408-289-1480 and let our staff know you’d like to volunteer for the City Team Dental Clinic
For more information, please contact chw202dds@hotmail.com
Life Hope Centers
Life Hope Centers, a humanitarian initiative of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, is dedicated to addressing these needs through strategic partnerships. They provide free health services to underserved populations, including:
- Dental Services: Cleanings, fillings, extractions, and oral health education
- Vision Services: Refraction eye exams and complimentary prescription glasses
- Medical Screening: Glucose and cholesterol screenings, along with lifestyle coaching
- Additional Services: Haircuts, massages, and more
Their programs, held monthly at various locations from Bakersfield to Modesto and Santa Maria to San Francisco, have positively impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands in the Central Valley and Bay Area. Importantly, all services are provided without the need for insurance or personal identification, ensuring that everyone is welcome.
Click here to learn more about current volunteer opportunities with Life Hope Centers
Remember the ToothFairy
Remember the ToothFairy is a nonprofit based in the San Fransisco Bay Area aimed to instill good brushing habits in children from low-income communities nationwide through our three service programs. They donate toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, and other types of dental hygiene equipment, host interactive, educational outreach events in the community, and partner with dental clinics to provide discounts and easier access to oral health.
Click here to learn more about current volunteer opportunities with Remember the ToothFairy
International Volunteer Opportunities
Inspiring. Rewarding. Heartwarming. Uplifting.
These are a few of the words that dental professionals have used to describe their experiences volunteering with dental charity missions. The missions are operated by a wide variety of organizations that specialize in providing dental care to hundreds of underserved communities worldwide. Destinations include South and Central America, Africa, Indonesia, India and many more. Are you ready to pack your bags, see the world and change lives for the better? See below for resources.
- ADA International Volunteer Organization
- Charity Dental Work | Global Dental Relief
- Los Médicos Voladores
- Canvasback Missions, Inc.
- Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
- Team Smile | Nonprofit Childrens’ Dental Organization | Free Dental For Kids In Need