MEDIT, a global digital dentistry company, announced the completion of its “Scanning Hope, Sharing Love” project, held from August 24 to 26 in Manzanillo del Mar, Cartagena, Colombia. The initiative combined free dental treatment with clothing donations for local residents.
The global giving initiative was designed to expand access to dental care in underserved communities using 3D intraoral scanning technology.
The three-day project began on August 24 with the setup of approximately 10 treatment stations equipped with intraoral scanners, PCs, 3D printers, and clinical equipment. On August 25, the team performed intraoral scans for pediatric and adult patients using MEDIT intraoral scanners and used the scan data to design and fabricate single crowns and bridges of up to four units. On the final day, August 26, the completed prostheses were delivered to patients, concluding the program. Children’s clothing collected and shipped from Italy was also distributed to local families on the final day. Supported by MEDIT’s local dealers and families in Italy, the donation drive collected more than 2,500 items of clothing across 35 boxes.
The project was carried out in collaboration with the University of Cartagena (Universidad de Cartagena) and the local foundation Fundación Serena del Mar. The university’s Faculty of Dentistry sent a team of around 30 volunteers, including faculty members, and opened its university-affiliated dental clinic, which treats approximately 6,000 patients annually, to support the project. Fundación Serena del Mar provided transportation support, while around 10 volunteers contributed to the initiative. Building on this collaboration, MEDIT and the University of Cartagena are also discussing opportunities for educational cooperation, including the introduction of a digital dentistry curriculum for fifth- and sixth-year dental students.
“This project gave our students and faculty an opportunity to see how digital dentistry can support both patient care and education,” said Dr. Adel Martinez, Dean, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Cartagena. “We are grateful to the MEDIT team for traveling such a long way to bring this meaningful initiative to our community. We believe collaborations like this can expand access to digital workflows while creating valuable learning opportunities for future dental professionals.
MEDIT plans to continue expanding its corporate social responsibility initiatives, building on the clinical and educational partnerships established through this project.
