The Swiss recycling company SER is collecting and recycling crowned teeth from dental practices to raise money for the world's largest orphan charity, SOS Children's Villages.

UK dentists are already participating in the 'Crown Collection' campaign. A tin is placed in the practice, free of charge, and any patient having a metal crown extracted has the option of contributing their crown to the SOS Children's Villages. The crowns are collected by SER, the precious metals are recycled, and the revenue generated from the resale of the metal goes entirely to the charity.

SOS Children provides a family for life for children who have lost their parents through conflict, famine, natural disaster, disease and poverty. Over 78,000 orphaned and abandoned children are cared for by SOS mothers in clusters of family homes in 508 Children's Villages, in 124 countries around the world. A further million children benefit from SOS Children's outreach support.

Dentist John Ahearne agreed to hosting a tin at his practice and gradually the tin has been filled with patients' crowns. 'The whole process couldn't be simpler,' commented Dr Ahearne.

Dental practices who would like to have an SOS Children crown donation tin can contact SER on freephone number 0800 1412611 or infosos@ser-preciousmetal.com.