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Smiles Change Lives

Orthodontists Unite to Offer Care for Low Income Children

Jul 23, 2009 Alex Strauss

Low income children and young people in the United States who suffer from misaligned teeth now have a way to access orthodontic care that can improve their lives.

Smiles Change Lives, a 12-year-old Kansas-city based organization, works to connect children who need orthodontia with partner orthodontists in their area. As the nation’s only non-profit organization dedicated to helping underserved populations gain access to orthodontic treatment, SCL provides a reliable and organized method for screening and referring children who could benefit most.

How ‘Smiles Change Lives’ Works

SCL builds its public access networks through community partnerships with orthodontists, dental schools, hygiene clinics, social service organizations and volunteers who provide referrals, treatment, funding and a local presence in each program area.

Partner orthodontists are asked to provide care for accepted participants at no charge – an investment that amounts to an average of $5000-$6000 and 24 months per child. Families who are accepted into the program are asked to pay $250 toward the cost of their care.

SCL has grown since its inception in 1997 and now has nine programs across seven states. Participating orthodontists have provided treatment to over 1,200 youth. In 2005, SCL was endorsed by the American Association of Orthodontists as an access-to-care provider to provide a means for its members to treat qualified youth in need. The group is actively working to establish new chapters in additional states.

Healthy Smiles Lead to Success in Life

As part of the screening process for Smiles Change Lives participants, families must agree to keep their orthodontic appointments and maintain good dental hygiene. They must also agree to see a dentist regularly and follow through with their treatment plan. Statistics suggest that the payoff for good hygiene and necessarily orthodontic care goes well beyond physical and mental wellbeing.

According to SCL, an investment of only $500 per child in orthodontic care increases their earning potential by 10-15%, resulting in an estimated average increase of $250,000 in wages over a lifetime. Although SCL’s application process is relatively extensive, it has resulted in a 95 percent completion rate for program participants and a 100 percent patient satisfaction rate.

Smiles Change Lives Participant Requirements:

Children aged 11 to 18
Moderate to severe malocclusion
Good overall oral health
Family income 200% of Federal Poverty Level
Motivated to stick with the program
Family investment of $250

The Smiles Change Lives program is currently available in several large metropolitan areas in Kansas, Florida, Missouri, Minnesota, Kentucky, Virginia and New York and more chapters are being established. New chapters will open soon in the Philadelphia area and in Wisconsin. A complete list of chapters as well as participant guidelines and applications can be found on their website.

The copyright of the article Smiles Change Lives in General Medicine is owned by Alex Strauss. Permission to republish Smiles Change Lives in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

A patient before treatment through SCL