Auroville Dental Centre for Education Research & Rural Action

The origins of the ADCERRA (Auroville Dental Centre Education Research Rural Action) project were inspired by two requirements. Firstly, there was a dire need for dental care among the rural population of India. The second motivation was that we wanted to put into action the revolutionary approach of "Concept Zero" into Health Care, and in particular into dental care. It offered the possibility of a much broader outreach with more affordable means in a larger setting.
Auroville Dental Centre was founded in 1982 as part of the Auroville Dental Centre outreach program and is located on Auroville Main Road, Vanur, Tamil Nadu, India. The clinic was founded by Dr. Jacques Verré, a French dental surgeon with 49 years of experience, who joined Auroville in 1981 as a volunteer honorary dental practitioner. we aim to reduce oral health inequities due to a lack of dental services through trained local women employed at 10 subcentres and one coordinating main clinical Centre.
‘India, with close to 70% of its 1.2 billion population living in rural areas, has a quasi—non—existent dental care service in these rural areas. Out of the 1,18,000 registered dentists in India today, only 2% of these professionals care for the majority of the rural population, or a ratio of 1 dentist for about 250,000 people. As a result, the vast majority suffer from tooth decay and gum diseases. It is estimated that only half of the population uses a toothbrush, primarily due to a lack of awareness. The majority of the rural population lives in over half a million villages, and with poor infrastructures and a lack of access to transportation, few have access to oral health services.'
[ Information quoted above taken from Demographics of Dentistry in India, Indian Journal of Dental Sciences, June 2011, Issue:2, Vol.:3 ]

ADCERRA’s rural programme was designed to address the absence of dentists in these rural communities, focusing on education, prevention, and basic care while prioritising children and educating them for long-term impact!
Our objectives were simple: increase access to basic dental care with an emphasis on preventive treatment using locally trained dental health workers. In addition, provide information and awareness about oral health with a systematic educational programme.
Reducing the number of affected children with tooth decay from 90% to 50%. This motivated the young generation and the adults to seek to preserve teeth. Reducing complex dental treatments. Demystifying the fear of dentists.

We want the best teeth in our villages as an example for the rest of rural India where there are no dental facilities!
What is essential is to continue to raise the level of health awareness and to combine prevention with curative treatment amongst the rural population, with their active participation, to achieve our goal of "Caries-free children" within 5 years.
Our model of work and organization in disadvantaged rural areas presently works well and can be duplicated in rural areas elsewhere in India, enabling a drastic reduction in health needs and costs.
Children's health and happy smiles. Improving dental care access, especially for children, reducing their dental care needs through our Concept which instills no fear of dentists.
Your complementary contribution will help us to maintain our structure till full autonomy after 5 years with less need for advanced treatments among the 25,000 surrounding poor people (with an equivalent average income of less than 1 US$ per day).
Indian donors can claim a 50% tax exemption under section 80 G of the Income Tax Act for any donation to Dental Centre or its projects under Auroville Foundation. The cheque can be made in the name of Auroville Unity Fund specifying the Project.
Other countries: please check the possibilities for tax deductions.
A full detailed project report will be sent to you upon request. Meanwhile, you are welcome to visit us.
Thanking you very heartily for your support and participation in this unique experience within the emerging universal township!

The Executives of the Auroville Dental Centre and project holders of this rural dental programme are:
- Dr. Jacques Verré, a voluntary French Dental Surgeon living in Auroville since 1981.
- Ms. H.Suryagandhi, a voluntary Indian Multipurpose Health Nurse living in Auroville since 1986.
They work along with 2 Dental Surgeons, 2 assistants, and 12 local village women trained as Dental Health Workers.
Voluntary Dental Surgeons participating regularly in our programme:
- Dr.Wolf NEDDERMEYER - wolfn@hotmail.com
- Dr.Marjut KUPARI - mkupari@mail.student.oulu.fi
Get in Touch
(0413) 2622008
Timings: Mon-Sat, 9am-1pm
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