Zeb beforeLacking the resources to get the dental treatment he desperately needed, Zeb and his mother turned to Tomorrow’s SMILES®, a teen program of the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation: America’s Toothfairy® (NCOHF), for help.Through this NCOHF program, Zeb was introduced to Dr. Anthony Ramirez and his team. Little did he realize just how much this Tomorrow’s SMILES volunteer dentist and his team would change his life. His journey to a happy, healthy future was about to begin.Poor oral health can be devastating for an adolescent struggling to fit in and prepare for a successful future. Zeb is not alone in this struggle. In fact, 23% of adolescents aged 12 to 19 years have untreated decay. Distracted by pain and embarrassment, simple things like concentrating in school or making friends become tremendous challenges for these teens, hindering their academic and social development. Even more disturbing are the effects this can have on their future. Their struggles of today can shatter their hopes and dreams for their future.Tomorrow’s SMILES was designed to give teens like Zeb the building blocks they need for healthy, productive futures by providing them with life-changing oral health services. Through this innovative program sponsored by the Patterson Foundation, volunteer dentists provide pro bono services to promising at-risk teens in their community, restoring their self-esteem and encouraging them to take responsibility for their oral health. Tomorrow’s SMILES volunteer dentists also have access to generously donated products from Invisalign® and Nobel Biocare™ (including Procera®) to help restore the smiles of pre-screened, promising teens.
Meet Zeb, a promising Brooklyn high school student who once suffered pain and embarrassment from the effects of poor oral health. He dreaded getting his photo taken and meeting new people, fearing ridicule once they saw his unsightly smile.Facing an uncertain future and feeling his dreams of a better life slipping away, he said, “I wish I could smile without feeling ashamed.” His damaged self-esteem and shaken confidence were holding him back. He wondered how he could become successful in life if he was too ashamed to smile confidently in an interview situation.