Schaan, Liechtenstein – 29 October 2025
In July 2025, Ivoclar Joy opened a new outpost in the Philippine province of Palawan. Ivoclar’s very own aid program can now also offer urgently needed dental treatment to children and young people in the Philippines. In just a few months, nearly 200 young people have already benefitted from Ivoclar Joy in the Philippines. The program focuses on helping young people achieve good oral health through preventive measures, thereby improving their future opportunities.
Oral health is essential for children and adolescents. According to the World Health Organisation, oral health is a key factor for general quality of life, success at school, psycho-social development and success as adults.1 The situation in the Philippines is particularly precarious: According to the local department of health, 87.4% of the population suffer from caries or its consequences. Low-income families in particular are forced to resort to inadequate dental hygiene methods such as rinsing the mouth with salt water or brushing the teeth with baking soda. They are confronted with geographical and/or financial obstacles that do not permit the consultation of dental specialists.
Since July 2025, Ivoclar has been contributing to the health of young people on the Philippine island of Palawan with the start of a new outpost of the company’s aid program Ivoclar Joy. “As one of the world’s leading dental companies, we are committed to fulfilling our social responsibilities. We have been operating a manufacturing site in the Philippines for the last 33 years, which is why we chose this country as the next site for our activities. Here, we can access our existing resources and networks to provide swift and comprehensive care,” explains Markus Heinz, CEO of the Ivoclar Group and member of the Ivoclar Joy Steering Committees.
The Ivoclar Joy program funds the work of dental professionals as well as the required material and training. What are known as outreach teams provide treatments directly in schools, where they can best reach their target groups. “We focus on prevention and helping young people maintain good oral health in their daily lives. We also involve parents and teachers, who are important role models and play a crucial role in supporting children's oral care routines. We also carry out urgent treatments, if necessary,” explains Philipp Schneider, Project Manager for Ivoclar Joy in Africa, Cambodia and the Philippines. The Ivoclar Joy outreach teams return to the schools at regular intervals to provide check-ups, reflecting the program’s lasting commitment to helping children and young people lead a life free from dental caries.
“We are incredibly grateful to our partners at the ministry of education and at the regional Palawan administration for the smooth and productive cooperation. Our Ivoclar Joy team in the Philippines is proud to be able to foster positive change for the children and their families and communities,” highlights Daniela San Agustin, Managing Director Manufacturing at Ivoclar in Manila. Only a few months after its introduction in the Philippines, Ivoclar Joy is already seeing its first successes: Two campaigns have already been carried out in two schools. Almost 200 children received dental treatment at these outreach events. The next campaign in a third school is scheduled for November 2025, followed by visits at three other schools in 2026.
Ivoclar’s own aid program is active in four locations: Peru, Ghana, Cambodia and the Philippines. It provides children and young people with urgently required dental treatment in the following three phases: 1) prevention and oral hygiene, 2) small restorations and 3) basic fillings and surgical procedures. Until today, the Ivoclar Joy teams have treated 16,500 children and young people. This has helped them regain a healthy smile, higher quality of life and provides them with better prospects for their future.
About the Ivoclar Group
The Ivoclar Group, head-quartered in Schaan, Liechtenstein, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of integrated solutions for high-quality dental applications. For over a century, the company has been shaping the dental industry, enabling people to achieve the best oral health and enjoy a beautiful smile. The company's success is based on a comprehensive portfolio of products, systems and services, strong research and development capabilities and a clear commitment to training and further education. The group of companies, which sells its products to around 130 countries, has 56 subsidiaries and branch offices and employs roughly 3,600 people worldwide. More information about the Ivoclar Group is available at ivoclar.com.
* Global strategy and action plan on oral health 2023–2030, WHO 2024.