Tyler barely spoke a word and covered his mouth when he smiled. He had trouble chewing his food so he avoided eating in public and around friends. He had not seen a dentist in many years despite the fact that he was in desperate need of dental care. Unfortunately, dental care was far down on the list of priorities for his family, which struggled to have the basic necessities such as food, utilities, and shelter. Both of his parents were unable to work. His mother was on dialysis several times a week, and his father, a veteran, suffered from a brain injury incurred during his time in the service. As the oldest brother of two younger siblings and the son of parents with severe medical problems, Tyler often set aside his own needs to care for his family.His grandparents did their best to help the family. They could see that their grandson was a bright young man who could accomplish great things if given the chance. Barely making ends meet themselves, they helped him get involved with the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), which they saw as an opportunity to build Tyler’s confidence. He immediately demonstrated an affinity and skill in the area of aviation. The CAP was more than just a social outlet that allowed him to be a teenager and forget his troubles; it planted the seed for his dream of becoming an Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle pilot in the Air Force. He possessed the drive, intelligence, and skill for such a challenge, but he lacked confidence in himself. He wondered how he could be successful in the Air Force when he was too embarrassed to speak in front of his fellow cadets.An estimated 17 million low-income children in America go without dental care each year — this means one out of every five children between the ages of 1 and 18. Tyler is one of these promising youth suffering from a silent epidemic that negatively impacts his quality of life and future.
Tyler before dental treatment, afraid to smileSeeing how poor oral health was eroding her grandson’s self esteem, Tyler’s grandmother reached out to Tomorrow’s SMILES®, a teen program of National Children’s Oral Health Foundation: America’s Toothfairy® (NCOHF), which provides promising, at-risk teens with comprehensive oral health services to prepare them for healthy, successful futures. Sponsored by the Patterson Foundation and Philips Sonicare, Tomorrow’s SMILES restores smiles and self-esteem while encouraging teens to take responsibility for their oral health. Through this program, caring volunteer dentists provide pro bono restorative services for a prescreened underserved teen, and have access to generously donated products from Invisalign® and Nobel Biocare™ (including Procera®). Participating teens Pay It Forward by serving as mentors and teachers to children. They encourage good oral health habits that will help them maintain beautiful smiles throughout their lives, and help to break the cycle of pediatric dental disease in their community.Thanks to Leonard Hess, DDS, a Dawson Academy faculty member, and J. Turner Hull, DDS, MS, Tyler is receiving life-changing oral health services. “Tyler is a great young man and we share a common interest in aviation. I could see how important it was for him to feel good about his smile. To be able to make such a positive impact on this teen’s life is extremely gratifying,” said Dr. Hess, a pilot, about helping Tyler through Tomorrow’s SMILES. Volunteering their time and expertise, these dentists serve as positive role models to Tyler in addition to giving him the gift of a smile
Tyler during treatment, smiling “I’m very grateful for all they’ve done for me,” said Tyler about Drs. Hess and Hull. With renewed confidence, this smart, articulate, hard-working teen is now facing his future with a big smile. More than his smile has changed since beginning his treatment. Tyler noted, “I’m more positive and outgoing and I see myself as a leader.” His grandfather, Phillip, agrees, “Tomorrow’s SMILES has had a big impact on Tyler’s life. He has gained confidence, self-esteem, and become a leader among his peers.” Find out how your practice can help transform a teen’s needless pain and suffering into a beautiful smile and the promise of a brighter future by volunteering for Tomorrow’s SMILES. To learn more about Tomorrow’s SMILES, visit www.TomorrowsSMILES.org. Email Brenda Woodington at [email protected] to volunteer to save a smile and change a teen’s life today!
