Oral health care volunteering in developing countries based on the traditional Western model does not contribute to sustainable improvement and has, presumably, negative consequences for the local health care system. The oral health care can and should be delivered more efficacious. To achieve efficacious and sustainable results, the ‘Basis package of oral care’ of the World Health Organization offers a good manual. In addition, the Dutch branch of Dental Health International can support non-governmental organizations in establishing volunteering oral health care delivery programmes in order to improve the preventive care, the accessibility of care, the working conditions of the local oral health care providers, and the medical hygiene.