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II filling cavities lent new
meaning to Dr. Doug Shiff-
man's "silver" wedding an-
niversary.
This summer, the
Farmington Hills dentist
and his wife, Julie, cele-
brated 25 years together by trav-
eling to Jerusalem where Doug
participated in Dental Volunteers
for Israel, a program helping un-
derprivileged children battle
tooth decay.
"Some of these kids are in des-
perate need of dental care," Dr.
Shiffman says. "Their teeth are
in horrible shape."
Dental problems are especial-
ly pernicious in youngsters.
When baby teeth rot and fall out,
there remains little guidance for
adult choppers.
Israel lacks a system of dental
insurance and the country's wa-
ter system remains unfluoridat-
ed. Problems of decay are most
pronounced among ultra-reli-
gious and immigrant households, vowed to dedicate herself to suf-
the somewhat isolated, the poor fering children. After the war, she
and those unfamiliar with tech- became a microbiologist and lat-
niques of proper dental care. Kid- er created the Jerusalem dental
die health tips — shrewdly clinic. Her efforts were support-
disguised as television cartoons ed by charitable dollars and, so
in the United States — aren't far, about 1,500 volunteers —
commonplace in the Israeli me- only 20 percent of them Jewish.
dia. Neither are public-service
The dentists pay for their own
announcements.
trips to Israel and may opt for
"When the kids first come to rent-free housing owned by DVI.
the clinic, their dental IQs are Their stays last two to four
zero. It's not unusual for them to weeks, during which they work
take 50 teaspoons of sugar in from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and take
their tea each day," Dr. Shiffman afternoons off to explore the coun-
says. "A lot of these kids don't try. The Shiffman parents did so
know what a toothbrush is.
with their daughter and son,
"I know it's hard to imagine, Jodie and Jeffrey.
but you have to tell them: 'This
Dr. Gerald Freedman, a re-
is a toothbrush. This is tooth- tired dentist living in Southfield,
paste, and this is what you do will participate in DVI for the
with it.' "
fifth time next May. He values
Dental Volunteers for Israel the chance to assist children and
(DVI) relies on the volunteer ser- tour Israel.
vices of licensed dentists world-
"This time when I go, I'm go-
wide to help run its 15-year-old ing over to Jordan, too," he says.
program, established by Holo-
Like all DVI volunteers, Dr.
raust survivor Trudi Birger. As Freedman has treated Jews and
a child in Europe, Ms. Birger Arabs, Christians, Russians,
Volunteer
dentists help
children fight
decay in Israel.
PHOTOS BY JEFFREY SHIFFMAN
RUTH LITTMANN STAFF WRITER
Ethiopians — young-
Top:
clinic by the social wel-
The children suffer
sters from diverse
fare departments in
from advanced stages
backgrounds.
Jerusalem and receive
of tooth decay.
He says Ethiopian
all treatments free.
children's teeth rapid-
Since training is vital
Above:
ly deteriorate after
to good dental care, the
DVI provides free
they make aliyah.
DVI program requires
dentistry to children of
"In Ethiopia, they different backgrounds. youngsters and their
have no dental de-
parents to attend its
cay," he says. "The
hygiene seminars.
people there are relatively poor,
After proving over time their
but they have no sweets and they commitment to healthy teeth,
have no chocolates and they have the children might qualify for
none of that exotic stuff that caus- more care. Dr. Shiffinan, work-
es decay.
ing with trained dental assis-
"The Israelis welcome these tants, performed root canals, did
kids and foist all these sweets on fillings and administered pit-
them. Within six months of corn- and-fissure sealants, a primar-
ing to Israel, the Ethiopian kids ily Western procedure to prevent
are basket cases, dentally speak- cavities.
ing."
Israeli dentistry has become
The Jerusalem clinic, which more Westernized as practition-
operates on $30,000 a month, an- ers, who've received U.S. train-
nually treats between 24,000 and ing, return east to work.
36,000 children, ages 5 to 18. Fif-
Despite advancements, vol-
teen percent of its funding comes unteers like Drs. Shiffman and
from the Israeli government, the Freedman forecast a continuing
rest from donations.
need for DVI and encourage oth-
Children are referred to the er dentists to participate. CI