The Department of Dental Laboratory Technology (DDLT) within the Faculty of Public Health at Antonine University (UA) participated in Rotateeth 3.0, a community service initiative dedicated to restoring oral function and improving the quality of life of elderly residents at Dar el Rahme Elderly Home.
Conducted during the Spring Semester 2026 at UA’s Nabi Ayla–Zahle Campus, the initiative was organized in collaboration with the Rotaract Club de Beyrouth Millenium, bringing together academic learning, healthcare service, and community engagement.
The project aimed to provide complete and partial removable dentures free of charge to elderly beneficiaries who were unable to afford the treatment. It was made possible through a fundraising campaign organized by the Rotaract Club de Beyrouth Millenium, which covered the cost of materials and operational requirements, while Antonine University contributed by providing the fabrication of the dentures free of charge.
The project was initiated through a collaboration between Mr. Karim Atallah, Head of Department’s Delegate at the Nabi Ayla–Zahle Campus, and Dr. Mohammad Yamane, Director of Professional Development at the Rotaract Club de Beyrouth Millenium. Through the efforts of Dr. Yamane and fellow members of the Club, contact was established with Dar el Rahme Elderly Home, where residents requiring removable prosthodontic treatment were identified.
A total of 13 elderly residents were successfully rehabilitated through the project, receiving 26 complete and partial removable dentures. The treatment process followed the standard clinical workflow for removable prosthodontics and included six clinical visits covering initial screening and examination, primary impressions, secondary impressions, occlusion registration, try-in appointments, and final denture delivery.
The project was carried out through a collaborative effort involving five licensed dentists, approximately 28 dental laboratory students, and four non-dental volunteers, bringing together the expertise and dedication of both Antonine University and Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ). At UA, third-year DDLT students were responsible for managing the laboratory stages of treatment under the supervision of Mr. Atallah, with the assistance of Ms. Sandy Ishak.
Instead of completing a second conventional academic case as part of their laboratory training, students worked on real-life cases, from pouring and preparing impressions to processing, finishing, polishing, and delivering the dentures. All procedures were conducted according to the standards and protocols applied within the academic curriculum, with a strong emphasis on quality control, professional responsibility, and patient-centered care.
Beyond its humanitarian value, Rotateeth 3.0 provided students with a hands-on educational experience rooted in real community needs, advancing SDG 4: Quality Education through applied learning and professional practice. By working on actual patient cases, students strengthened their technical competencies, developed professional confidence, and learned to adapt laboratory procedures to patient-specific conditions, particularly among elderly beneficiaries with functional limitations.
For the residents of Dar el Rahme Elderly Home, the project advanced SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Beingby restoring oral function, improving comfort, aesthetics, and nutrition, while enhancing overall quality of life. By providing treatment free of charge to individuals unable to afford it, the initiative also contributed to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.
The collaboration between Antonine University, the Rotaract Club de Beyrouth Millenium, Dar el Rahme Elderly Home, and healthcare volunteers further embodied SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, demonstrating how academic institutions and community partners can work together to transform technical expertise into compassionate service.
By placing students in direct contact with real community needs, Rotateeth 3.0 reflects UA’s commitment to preparing competent, responsible, and socially engaged professionals who place their knowledge at the service of human dignity and community well-being.