WHAT DO WE DO IN ITALY
In Italy, COI is committed to social dentistry projects aimed at addressing the growing needs of disadvantaged communities across the country.
We also carry out health promotion activities in schools and raise awareness about our international projects and key issues in global cooperation.
ACTIVE PROJECTS:
The “Coordination of Social Dentistry in Turin” Project
Social Coordination
In May 2015, by resolution of the City Council of Turin, the Coordination of Social Dentistry was established with the aim of addressing, from a systemic perspective, the challenges faced by the most socio-economically vulnerable groups in accessing dental care. The initiative involves networking several voluntary and non-profit organizations in Turin which, each with its own history and characteristics, have been offering free dental assistance to people in need for years.
Since 2016, a joint project has been active, involving all associations within the Coordination of Social Dentistry, aimed at improving the oral health conditions of the population in the City of Turin.
Specifically, the project includes:
Oral health promotion and prevention activities, with particular attention to children and adolescents.
Provision of dental, orthodontic, and prosthetic care for vulnerable populations.
Through close collaboration between all participating associations, the project aims to enhance the capacity of Turin’s non-profit sector to respond effectively to oral health needs.
Associations involved in the coordination:
Asili Notturni Umberto I
Associazione Camminare Insieme
Protesi Dentaria Gratuita ODV
Associazione Centro Come Noi S. Pertini
Organizzazione Sermig di Volontariato
Banco Farmaceutico Torino
City of Turin – Department of Health, Social and Housing Policies
Misericordes ODV
Cooperazione Odontoiatrica Internazionale ETS
The project is currently funded by the City of Turin (since 2023), and was previously supported by the Compagnia di San Paolo (until 2022).
Visit the Coordination of Social Dentistry website
Since 2009, COI and the Oral Health Observatory for Disadvantaged Communities (born from the collaboration between COI and faculty members from the Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics Degree Program at the University of Torino) have been providing a social prosthetics service for people in difficulty. Every Wednesday and Friday, dental technicians and dentists volunteer to offer this service at the COI headquarters, where a room with a dental chair is available.
Complete dentures are made for edentulous individuals using the innovative SET (Simplified Edentulous Treatment)technique developed by Prof. Giulio Preti. This method allows the complete prosthesis to be completed in just two sessions, compared to the seven typically required with traditional methods.
The beneficiaries of this service are individuals in situations of economic hardship, social vulnerability (referred to us by the social services with whom we work in close synergy), and others (such as people unable to access the national healthcare system, individuals with a migratory background, and the elderly).
COI’s activities in this project only involve the prosthetic creation. If you require other dental treatments, we encourage you to contact the Social Dentistry Coordination at odontoiatriainrete@gmail.com so you can be redirected to an organization that can meet your needs.
This project is made possible thanks to the contributions from Fondazione CRT, Fondazione Intesa Sanpaolo, and the Otto per Mille Fund of the Waldensian Church.
Since 2015, COI volunteer Sara Tagliabò, a dental hygiene graduate, has been conducting workshops in several schools in the Biella area, aimed at promoting oral health and proper nutrition through prevention and education.
FINISHED PROJECTS:
In 2023, COI organized workshops and screening days through the so-called “Snodi” (Community Hubs), with the aim of promoting oral health prevention by raising awareness and providing information to various families.
Beneficiaries received oral hygiene kits (including toothbrush and toothpaste), as well as custom-made educational materials and brochures, in order to promote oral health prevention among parents and children living in absolute poverty in the city of Turin. The visits also made it possible to refer the most urgent cases to the Turin Social Dentistry Network Coordination.
The contribution of project partners was essential, as they provided COI staff with access to their facilities, enabling the project to reach more beneficiaries across different areas of Turin. This made it possible to intervene where needs were greatest and to map the oral health situation in areas affected by poverty more accurately.
Alongside the field activities, a data collection effort was carried out under the supervision of an epidemiology expert. Each child who underwent a dental check-up filled out a questionnaire about their prior knowledge of oral health and the current condition of their teeth and oral hygiene. This helped tailor and adjust the workshops based on the specific needs and level of awareness observed among the beneficiaries.
Project partners:
La Casa delle Rane Association, San Salvario Local Development Agency Onlus, Camminare Insieme ODV, Gruppo Abele Onlus Association, Consulta per le Persone in Difficoltà ODV ETS, Mirafiori Community Foundation Onlus, “S. Pertini” Come Noi Center – Sermig Volunteer Organization ODV.
The project was made possible thanks to the contribution of Fondazione CRT.
XMING is the evolution of the participatory design process launched in 2014 through the project “Together for All Children, Beyond the ZeroSei Camps” (part of the ZeroSei Program by Compagnia di San Paolo, and funded by it).
XMING was implemented in Beinasco, Bruino, Orbassano, Piossasco, Rivalta, and Volvera (Southern Turin), with the goal of supporting local networks and developing participatory planning practices in which each stakeholder, through their own expertise, contributes and takes on social responsibilities within the community. This follows the model of an “educating community” that cares for its children.
In six High Educational Density Locations (LADE), free weekly educational and play-based activities were offered to children. These included summer events in public spaces or partner venues such as dinners, snacks, circus workshops, artistic labs, and informal open-access opportunities.
Workshops were also held in nursery schools and kindergartens (4 to 8 sessions per group) to promote and strengthen children’s emotional, cognitive, and transversal skills. Additionally, free parenting workshops were organized at municipal venues, where experts in child development, education, and health promotion supported parenting skills and family empowerment.
As part of the project, High Educational Density Locations (LADE) were officially opened—these are spaces where free play-based and educational activities (e.g., theater, juggling, nutrition) were run by the project’s partner organizations, aimed at both children and their families.
Lead organization: San Donato Social Cooperative
Project promoted by: Impresa Sociale con i Bambini S.r.l., as part of the 2016 Early Childhood Call for Proposals
For the third consecutive year, COI has offered a series of workshop activities for primary schools in Districts 6 and 7 of the City of Turin. The initiative aims to improve public health and promote social integration among vulnerable groups in Turin and the Piedmont region, by supporting school curriculum programs.
Each class participated in two health promotion sessions focused on healthy nutrition and oral health. The goal was to teach essential rules and concepts for proper oral hygiene and nutrition through engaging and fun learning experiences. During school age, children begin to form attitudes and behavior models that will shape their future lifestyles. Therefore, the school’s educational role is crucial in fostering the adoption of key hygiene and behavioral norms that lay the foundation for healthy living.
Additionally, some targeted interventions were carried out in lower secondary schools, addressing topics such as addictions and bullying.
All activities were conducted by professionals from the COI NGO—including dentists, dental hygienists, nutritionists, and facilitators—who guided children through this health education journey.
COI also continued its collaboration with Alma Mater Center, organizing meetings with migrant women on topics related to maternal and child health, and the protection of oral health.
Project partners: District 7 of Turin, District 6 of Turin, Almaterra Association
The project is supported by: Fondazione CRT
Once again this year, oral health workshops will be held in primary schools across the Province of Biella.
These activities are made possible thanks to the support of URSA MAIOR, in memory of Pietro Bottura.
COI took part in the project “Oltre i Campi ZeroSei,” implemented by the CIdiS Consortium (Intermunicipal Service Consortium) in collaboration with local authorities and numerous associations from the municipalities of Beinasco, Bruino, Orbassano, Rivalta, Piossasco, and Volvera.
The project, which in its second and third years was renamed “Insieme per tutti i bambini”, focused on promoting and supporting parenting and childcare skills among families with children aged 0–6, encouraging multicultural coexistence, and reducing prejudice. In particular, it aimed to provide concrete opportunities for well-being and social inclusion for the most vulnerable members of the community—first and foremost, Roma children and their families.
COI organized a series of school-based workshops and public events to promote oral health in the municipalities of Orbassano, Rivalta, and Volvera.
The project was made possible thanks to the contribution of:
As part of the “Coordinamento cittadino per l’Odontoiatria Sociale” (City Coordination for Social Dentistry), a series of prevention and oral health education interventions were carried out for children and young people in foster care communities managed by the Municipality of Turin. The goal was to raise awareness about oral health and contribute to promoting a healthy lifestyle.
COI conducted the following activities:
The project was developed to support and strengthen the care activities managed by the Coordinamento di Odontoiatria Sociale, which includes Camminare Insieme, Sermig, Asili Notturni, Free Prostheses, and Banco Farmaceutico.
The project was made possible thanks to the contribution of the Compagnia di San Paolo.
The project primarily targeted the school population in Area 5 of the Metropolitan City of Turin (the Pinerolese area), with the goal of integrating the curriculum with elements of oral health prevention and education. In addition to the workshops in schools, an oral health workshop and first oral examination were also conducted at the San Giuseppe foster care facility in Pinerolo.
The project was made possible thanks to the contribution of the Metropolitan City of Turin.
For the third consecutive year, COI organized oral health workshops in the District 7 area of Turin (Aurora, Vanchiglia, Sassi, and Madonna del Pilone). For the 2016-17 school year, in addition to the oral health workshops, a second meeting was organized in each class to deepen the topic of proper nutrition.
We believe that information and prevention in the areas of oral health and proper nutrition are essential to prevent diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle, starting from childhood.
The project primarily targets the school population, aiming to integrate the regular curriculum with elements of prevention and education on oral health and proper nutrition. Approximately 60 workshops were held in primary schools within the district.
Additionally, meetings were held with migrant women at the Almamater center, focusing on maternal and child healthand the protection of children’s oral health.
Project partners: District 7 of Turin, Almaterra Association
The project was made possible thanks to the contribution of Fondazione CRT.
After the successful implementation of the project in the District 6 area of the City of Turin, the activities continued in District 7 (Aurora, Vanchiglia, Sassi, and Madonna del Pilone). The project aimed to improve the oral health of the school and migrant populations through education and awareness-raising efforts.
We believe that information and prevention in the field of oral health are essential, especially for vulnerable groups, in order to avoid diseases that are becoming less accessible in Italy, given that 95% of the dental healthcare system is private.
The project primarily targeted the school population, aiming to integrate the regular curriculum with elements of oral health prevention and education. About 20 workshops were held in the primary schools within the district.
Additionally, meetings were organized with migrant women at the Almamater center, focusing on maternal and child health and the protection of children’s oral health, as well as two training sessions with intercultural mediators from the Almamaterra and A.M.M.I. Associations.
Project partners: District 7 of Turin, Almaterra Association, A.M.M.I. Association
The project was made possible thanks to the contribution of Fondazione CRT.
COI believes that information and prevention in the field of oral health are essential, particularly among vulnerable populations, in order to prevent diseases whose treatments in Italy are becoming increasingly less accessible, especially given that 95% of the dental healthcare system is private.
This project aimed to improve the oral health of the population in District 6 of Turin, specifically through education and awareness-raising efforts. It primarily targeted the school population, integrating the regular curriculum with elements of oral health prevention and education. In particular, oral health workshops were conducted in primary schools, and meetings were held with migrant women at the Alma Mater center, focusing on maternal and child health and the protection of children’s oral health.
Project partner: Almaterra Association
The project was made possible thanks to the contribution of Fondazione CRT.
For years, COI has been actively involved in social dentistry activities for migrants and refugees.
As part of this project, initially called “Oral Health for Refugees” from 2013 to 2015 and later renamed “Oral Health for Migrants and Refugees” in 2017, periodic awareness and education activities were organized within migrant and refugee communities. The prevention activities were accompanied by oral health check-ups for each beneficiary to identify any urgent needs and support patients with treatment through the National Health Service or volunteer associations providing free healthcare.
Other interventions included:
Project Partners: ASPIC, Medici con l’Africa CUAMM, NutriAid, Rainbow4Africa, Cooperativa O.R.S.O., CCM – Committee for Medical Collaboration, Cooperativa Mary Poppins
The project was co-financed by the European Refugee Fund 2008 – 2013.
COI participated in the “ROM Integration” project, led by the CIdiS Consortium (Intermunicipal Consortium of Services), funded by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals 2007 – 2013.
The project aimed to ensure the protection of foreign minors and support and facilitate their social and school integration.
COI focused on promoting oral health among the minority population in the settlements of Orbassano, Rivalta, Piossasco, Volvera, and Beinasco (Province of Turin), through primary and secondary preventive health workshops and emergency basic oral care (delivered directly within the settlements using the ART technique).
In addition, oral health education workshops were held in schools.
Project Partners: CIdiS Consortium (Intermunicipal Consortium of Services), San Donato Cooperative.
The project aimed to promote oral health among the minority youth in the nomadic settlements of Orbassano, Rivalta, and Beinasco (Province of Turin), through a health program focusing on primary and secondary prevention and basic emergency care for oral diseases.
Given the total absence of oral health prevention awareness and the reality of a Romani youth population, 90% of whom had never visited a dentist, the project adopted an impactful and playful-educational approach while respecting their cultural identity. It was believed that referring these families to a specific public health service would not be effective unless preceded by a program in which the first contact with the dentist is affectionate and positive. This allows the practice of oral hygiene and prevention to be internalized, as they are understood through direct experience of health and well-being during play.
In addition to dentists and dental hygienists, educators, cultural mediators, and nurses also participated in the project activities.
Project Partners:
The project was initiated by COI and carried out with the collaboration of the WHO Collaborating Centre in Milan, several ASLs (Local Health Authorities) from the Piedmont Region, and the Regional Epidemiology Center of Piedmont.
The goal of the project was to assess the oral health status of a sample of institutionalized elderly individuals in the Piedmont Region, in order to analyze their needs and develop an intervention strategy in coordination with the individual ASLs. Additionally, training and awareness-raising activities were conducted for nursing home staff on the topic of oral prevention.
Thanks to the work of dentists and dental volunteers from COI, assisted by hygienists, investigations were carried out in numerous elderly care facilities across the Torino area, Vercelli, Biella, Asti, Cuneo, and the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province.
The complete absence of recent data, especially for these segments of the population who have no access to dental care, made this project very innovative and unique in the Piedmont region.
The data collected indicated a high number of edentulous individuals (completely toothless) in this population, many of whom lacked full dentures or had inadequate prosthetic devices. Furthermore, the overall levels of oral hygiene were generally insufficient.
Project Leader: Dr. Tiziana Francone
