“What’s the big deal? It’s just a little teasing.”
You might be tempted to think that occasional teasing is simply a rite of passage that most children face in their transition to adulthood. Unfortunately, teasing and bullying are daily challenges for many young people. It may be so frequent and severe that it causes low self-esteem, a distorted body image, social anxiety, or even thoughts of self-harm. We know that appearance-based bullying is common, and bullies often target children and adolescents for poor dental appearance. This magnifies the problem for children who come from disadvantaged backgrounds because they have reduced access to regular dental and orthodontic care. We are passionate about addressing this problem and creating a foundation of confidence and resiliency that lasts a lifetime.
Why Should You Become a Volunteer Orthodontist with Smile for a Lifetime?
You join a community of dedicated and caring Providers committed to changing lives through the gift of a Smile.
- Joining our community is easy and rewarding! No annual fee, no minimum number of kids to serve per year, and you meet with the family first before you say Yes to the case.
- We handle the paperwork for you! Our team takes care of the application process and gathers all the needed records for you.
- We handle all of your pro bono requests. We ask the tough questions and take the heat when someone is not approved (never be the bad guy again).
- Our team ensures that your donated time, skills, and practice resources are spent on qualified, motivated children.
- We help brand your practice as a generous, community-minded business.
Additionally, we have established valuable partnerships with companies committed to supporting our veterans and their families:
· Retainer for Life: Waiving all setup fees, Retainer for Life generously provides one free retainer for our applicants. Subsequent replacements are available for just $43.
· Invisalign: Donating a select number of aligners, Invisalign helps ensure our applicants receive the highest quality orthodontic care.
· Wild Smiles: Donating designer brackets and fun elastics to all Smile for Lifetime applicants. Wild Smiles brings a touch of creativity and personalization to treatment for both children and adults.
For Orthodontists Only
For more information on becoming a provider with the Smile for a Lifetime program, please contact the National Executive Director, Robin Coen, at 719-629-8245 or email Robin@SmileForALifetime.org
