Ashamed of her unsightly smile, Micah didn’t feel pretty. But that wasn’t even the worst of it. “No one wants to be around the girl with ragged teeth,” she said of how difficult it was to make friends. Bullied by her fellow classmates throughout high school, she often cried herself to sleep worrying about the ridicule the next day would bring. The teasing never stopped as her classmates resorted to cyber bullying, posting their cruel remarks online for all to see.Tomorrow’s SMILES®, a special program from the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF), was designed to help teens such as Micah who desperately need dental care. 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 prescreened, promising teens.In return for receiving this life-changing care, participating teens pay it forward by sharing their newfound oral health knowledge through interactive oral health lessons with younger children in their community. Tooth decay is the No. 1 chronic childhood disease, and it has reached epidemic proportions. Millions suffer in pain so severe that it inhibits their ability to eat, sleep, and learn. Better access to oral health education can drastically reduce tooth decay, and the financial and societal costs that result, and that’s why your support of this program is so important.As you know, poor oral health can be devastating for an adolescent struggling to fit in. Studies show that children with dental pain may be irritable, withdrawn, and unable to concentrate. This pain can affect test performances as well as school attendance.Suffering from the pain and embarrassment of her ugly smile, Micah lacked confidence and hope for a happy and successful future. Micah’s teacher and mentor at her local Alabama Boys & Girls Club had known her for several years and knew that she needed help. Micah was a bright student and worked well with the children at the club, so her teacher reached out to the Tomorrow’s SMILES program for help.
Micah beforeAs a Tomorrow’s SMILES teen, Micah no longer cries herself to sleep worrying about being teased. Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Keith Calvert and his staff, she is receiving life-changing dental care, and soon will have a restored smile and renewed confidence. With hope and excitement about her future, Micah has this to say about her career goals of wanting to become a teacher, “I can’t wait to have my teeth fixed so that people can hear what I say instead of being distracted by my teeth.”
Micah during treatmentYou can help transform a teen’s pain and suffering into a happy, beautiful smile and the promise of a bright future by supporting the efforts of the Tomorrow’s SMILES program. Encourage your practice to participate in Tomorrow’s SMILES and help change the life of a teen in your community. With your help, these teens are more likely to succeed in school and become productive, healthy adults. As Tomorrow’s SMILES teens experience the impact of good oral health, they better understand and appreciate the benefits of regular professional oral care for a lifelong healthy smile. To learn more about Tomorrow’s SMILES, visit www.TomorrowsSMILES.org. Email Brenda Woodington of NCOHF at [email protected] to sign up and change a life today!
