Alumni, Donors, and Friends
Support the Annual Student Service Trip
The University of Florida College of Dentistry's Dominican Republic Service Trip has been an annual college tradition since 1987. Each year about 30 UF dental students and five practicing dentists travel to the west of the Dominican Republic to serve 25 communities around the bustling town of Las Matas de Farfan, including a school and a prison. 
All but one of these 25 communities has no local dental facility, no running water and no electricity.
The trip is completely student-organized. Students pay their own expenses and volunteer to provide free care to the underserved. They also coordinate gathering enough supplies to treat over 600 patients during five days of service. This trip is a rewarding and life-changing experience for the students, especially since they are able to relieve people from severe tooth pain. The patients are so grateful and thankful for the help. This trip embodies what UF dental students are all about: service to others, the desire to give something back, the passion to learn and ability to open their hearts to the world.
We ask you to please donate to this special cause and keep this wonderful trip running for years to come. Your help will go a long way toward providing supplies for patients and keeping the trip cost down so more students can get involved.
Our fundraising goal for this year is $50,000.
Thank you so much—We appreciate your desire to help us attain our goal!
How to Donate
- To give using a credit card, make a gift online.
Please type "Dominican Republic Trip" in the Comments field. - Make checks payable to "University of Florida Foundation Acct. #F003111" and write "Dominican Republic Trip" on the memo line. Mail to:
Rebecca Graves, UF College of Dentistry
P.O. Box 100405
Gainesville, FL 32610-0405 - Supplies can be sent to:
Dr. Timothy Garvey
1600 SW Archer Rd.
Pediatric Dentistry, D9-39
Gainesville, FL 32610-0426 - All donations are tax deductible (University's Tax ID #59-0974739).
- Gold sponsors giving $100 or more will have their name/logo included on the trip t-shirts.
- Platinum sponsors giving $250 or more will also have their logo/name included on our website (Please e-mail your logo to malfonso@dental.ufl.edu.)
Testimonials
"Part of what we are imparting to the students is about what you gain when you give of your talents and skills. It creates a long-term commitment to service for many of the students who participate."
Timothy Garvey, D.M.D.
"This trip is why I wanted to do dentistry in the first place. There is something so exhilarating about being there, working hard, and knowing all the good that I've done for people less fortunate than myself. I want mission trips to always be a part of my career."
Gaby Slement, Class of 2013
Needed Supplies
- Anesthetic
- Lidocaine
- Septocaine
- Mepivacaine without Epinephrine
- Prilocaine without Epinephrine
- Card protectors for needles (like a business card with a hole in the center)
- Gloves (Mainly Medium)
- Sterilization
- Hand sanitizer
- Antibacterial wipes
- Surgical cover (blue sheets)
- Operative
- Tofflemires & matrices
- Sealant material
- 1 step bonding & Plastic wells for bonding
- RGMI material & Guns
- Rubber Dams, Young's Frame, Rubber Dam Punchers etc
- Hemostat cords & Hemostatic liquid
- Amalgam carrier, condensers
- Basic burs (330/245, round burs and finishing…etc)
- Mandrels & finishing discs
- Surgical
- Gel foam
- 12 blades
- Spit cups (paper)
- 3-0 sutures – plain gut
- Dry socket dressing
- Sterile saline
- Monojet irrigation syringes
- Home care
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
- Fluoride
- Fluoride Dispensers Foam
- M/L Trays
- Medication
- Triple antibiotic ointment
- Chlorhexidine
- Ibuprofen 200 mg
- Acetaminophen 350 mg
- Keflex/Clindomycin
- Penicillin VK 500
