Mundo a Sorrir translates from Portuguese to “Smiling World.” This is the name of the NGO co-founded by ICD Section V Fellow Dr. Mariana Dolores, who serves on the ICD Global Visionary Fund (GVF) Board and as the statutory president of Mundo a Sorrir.
The idea for Mundo a Sorrir was sparked by a 2005 volunteer mission to Cape Verde, an archipelago located 350 miles off the coast of Senegal. Dr. Dolores, who observed that the local hospital would lack a dental presence for at least nine months of the year, recalled the moment the mission became clear:
“That information, together with all the needs, the severe oral situation of so many people and the knowledge that, despite all our efforts and extra hours we worked, we would never be able to treat all the people… That was the moment!”
To address the need for dental care in the island nation and provide support that extended beyond temporary relief, Dr. Dolores founded Mundo a Sorrir. Two decades later, it has expanded its reach across Portugal and into West Africa, focusing on nations including Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and São Tomé and Príncipe.
Providing Accessible Care for Underserved Populations
In these regions, Mundo a Sorrir provides a lifeline for individuals who lack access to dental care. For example, the Oral Health Support Center, known in Portuguese as Centro de Apoio à Saúde Oral (C.A.S.O.), operates social clinics for those facing extreme socioeconomic hardship. The scale of need is evident at the Lisbon clinic, where 50% of the beneficiaries live on less than 100 euros per month. In 2025, the Lisbon project served 482 people and performed more than 1,000 treatments, helping patients overcome the physical, mental and social challenges caused by dental decay.
For Dr. Dolores, the motivation to continue this work remains rooted in the tangible changes seen in every patient. “Providing people with oral health care is improving life quality, self-esteem and including people back in society,” she noted.
The Psychological Power of a Smile
Francisco, a patient at the Lisbon clinic, shared the following regarding his experience with Mundo a Sorrir:
“When I came to Mundo a Sorrir, my oral health was poor because I was already missing many teeth. I had a cleaning, restored some teeth, and now I am getting prostheses, so of course my situation has improved. This has had an impact on my life more on a psychological level; it had very positive psychological effects. I feel much more motivated, freer, with more freedom.”
Other patients have shared similar accounts of how access to care has renewed their sense of self-worth and place in their communities. One patient shared:
“With this change, I feel that my life can change. Many times I tried to find work and was rejected… Finding this solution has given me back my smile, and I know that can help me a lot.”
Another individual described the clinical referral as a transformative moment:
“Over time, I lost my teeth, and I also had a serious health problem that made everything even worse. When my social worker said she could refer me to your clinic, it was as if life was giving me a second chance. I can’t tell you how happy I am and how much you have helped me. Now I can smile at my children again.”
A Sustainable Future
Francisco and others are among the thousands of patients Mundo a Sorrir has served, thanks in part to the ICD Global Visionary Fund – Henry Schein Cares Grant Program. This partnership has provided essential funding and product donations since 2020 and will likely continue for the foreseeable future, as a new five-year renewal plan will sustain the program through 2029.
The impact of this collaboration is particularly evident in West Africa. Dr. Dolores noted that GVF support has primarily been concentrated at their clinic in Guinea-Bissau. “We try to assist the low-income population and provide the country with better infrastructure, training of local health professionals and provide health literacy and dental treatments,” she explained. When ICD has the opportunity to support organizations with strategic and sustainable operations in a long-term capacity, the chance of long-term, positive impact on the affected communities is much greater.
How Your Support Changes Lives
We are proud to support organizations like Mundo a Sorrir. The Global Visionary Fund’s grant program is made possible by the generous donations of ICD Fellows and the ongoing support of Henry Schein. To ensure we can continue serving those in need, the College has launched the Building a Legacy of Impact campaign. The GVF is a priority area of this campaign, designed to expand our support for humanitarian oral health initiatives worldwide. Please help us change lives by supporting the campaign today at icd.org/campaign.
