Small Smiles of Washington, D.C. Celebrates Its Grand Opening

Small Smiles of Washington, D.C. is proud to open its second center, located at 3946 Minnesota Avenue, NE.

In the photo, Dr. Presson and Dr. Sprott participate in a ribbon cutting with elected officials, community leaders and staff members to celebrate the grand opening.

Texas Smiles of San Antonio Celebrates Grand Opening!

Earlier this month, Texas Smiles of San Antonio celebrated its grand opening.

The dental center offered free dental screenings for the community as well as tours and an open house for community leaders, community oral health partners and elected officials.

Rep. Jose Menendez and Councilman David Medina participated in a ribbon cutting with Dr. Yolanda, Dr. Bishoy and the Texas Smiles staff.

What Parents Are Saying: It's All Smiles!

Parents and kids across the country are all smiles about their visits to Small Smiles dental centers. Hear what they have to say!

“Dr. Katie and Ms. Angie are wonderful! They made this visit very pleasant for my son who is three… He was in no pain and was not scared due to their wonderful skills. Thank you!” Small Smiles of Colorado Springs, CO

“Staff was professional. Customer service was excellent and helpful with solving an insurance issue. My child was treated with gentle care and concern by all staff. Thank you.” Small Smiles of Springfield, MA

“The waiting area was set up for children to feel right at home. And the dentist’s attitude made my child feel reassured and he had a wonderful experience.” Oklahoma Smiles of Oklahoma City, OK

Small Smiles Employees in Baltimore Give Back to the Community!

Since January, employees from Small Smiles of North Baltimore have been volunteering
at Sarah’s Hope. Sarah’s Hope is a shelter for homeless women and children on the west side of Baltimore. Housed in an old elementary school, Sarah’s Hope allows women and children to live together while they look for permanent housing.

The center provides hope for women who are struggling, but with limited means, there is only so much the center can do. The center has only one washer and dryer,
one TV, and a refrigerator that is only accessible by staff at meal times.

Once a month, the Small Smiles employees take time out of their busy schedules to purchase groceries, and prepare and serve a meal to the women and children of Sarah’s Hope.

Throughout the month, the Small Smiles staff also collects canned goods and baby products for the shelter. The staff at Small Smiles of North Baltimore calls their volunteer efforts “humbling” and are proud that the spirit of volunteerism has caught
on at their center.

We are proud of the CSHM-associated dental center employees at North Baltimore for making a difference in their community!

Small Smiles Employees in Colorado Springs Help "Stuff the Bus"!

Small Smiles employees in Colorado Springs helped area children prepare for Back-to-School by participating in the "Stuff the Bus" program! Small Smiles of Colorado Springs donated items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss to help keep kids in Colorado smiling as they head back to the classroom!

Watch the clip!

Check out "Brush, Brush, Brush and Floss!" as performed by Kaiah Harris, a Small Smiles of Reno Patient

Watch Kaiah perform "Brush, Brush, Brush and Floss!"

Dr. Adair Speaks to Dentistry IQ About Serving the Underserved

Dr. Steve Adair recently spoke with Kevin Henry, editor of Dentistry IQ, about the importance of dental care for children -- and the role that parents play in ensuring their children have healthy smiles.

"In our clinics around the country, we daily see children come in with numerous cavities caused by diet, poor oral hygiene, lack of education about oral health, and more. All clinicians can do is try to keep up with the decay. If better care could be provided for the parents, I think it would turn the tide. Studies have shown that the children of mothers with untreated cavities are twice as likely to have untreated cavities. Mothers with regular dental care rated their health significantly higher than those who didn’t receive regular care. Another study has shown children are much more likely to visit the dentist if their parents visit the dentist regularly."

-- Dr. Steve Adair

Click here to read the article.

Small Smiles of Greenville Participates in Bright Red Bookshelf Program

Recently, Small Smiles of Greenville, in partnership with Ready 4 Reading and Leadership Greenville, was the recipient of a "Bright Red Bookshelf."

The "Bright Red Bookshelf" program provides gently used books for children and families that visit the center for dental care. Statistics show that in low-income neighborhoods, only one book exists for every 300 children.

“Every day our dental center sees children from low-income and disadvantaged families,” said Dr. Cynthia Baldwin, Lead Dentist at Small Smiles of Greenville. “We work to ensure that Greenville’s children have access to the dental care that they need and are proud to welcome the Bright Red Bookshelf Program into our dental center. Providing access to books through the program will help promote literacy among our patients and in our community.”

Dr. Dogiparthi Named a Top Dentist in New Hampshire

Recently, Dr. Mukunda Dogiparthi from Small Smiles of Manchester was named a top dentist in New Hampshire by USA Top Dentists and New Hampshire Magazine.

Congratulations to Dr. Dogiparthi and her staff at Small Smiles of Manchester for this tremendous accomplishment and for providing high-quality and compassionate care in their dental center every day.

Small Smiles Dentists Explain the Impact of Proposed MassHealth Dental Cuts

From the Worcester Telegram & Gazette

MassHealth dental care helps many

As dentists who spend every day treating the low-income population in Massachusetts, we can attest to the impact that the MassHealth dental care cuts for adults, proposed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives, will have on the state’s long-term finances and the overall wellness of our most vulnerable populations.

Dental care isn’t just about having clean teeth. Regular trips to the dentist can help head off the additional costs and pain caused by other health problems such as poor nutrition and dangerous infections — conditions that also add additional strain to the state’s public health resources.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, African Americans, Latinos and Native Americans have the poorest oral health of all racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Adults below the federal poverty level are also more likely to have decayed and missing teeth. Cutting benefits will disproportionately impact the very people most in need of dental care.

Finding other forms of dental coverage is very difficult for this population. A 2008 report by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 59 percent of low-income adults have no dental coverage, and more than one in six low-income adults who lack dental coverage reported being unable to get care.

Because people from low-income populations are more likely to have dental health problems and less likely to have access to care, it is vital for the Massachusetts House of Representatives to reverse its course and protect funding for MassHealth dental services.

Dr. Maureen George, Small Smiles of Worcester

Dr. Yogita Kanorwalla, Small Smiles of Springfield

Dr. Stovall Discusses the Need For Children's Oral Health

Recently, Dr. Stovall from Small Smiles of Montgomery appeared on television to discuss the importance of children's oral health. Here what Dr. Stovall has to say about why its important to visit the dentist during the video clip!

Small Smiles Partners with Washington Nationals to Help "Bring A Smile to Haiti"

Small Smiles today announced that its Small Smiles dental centers in the Washington, D.C. metro area will donate 1,000 child toothbrushes this month to the Washington Nationals “Bring A Smile To Haiti” earthquake relief program.

“Through our partnership with Gifts In Kind International, we are able to make tangible donations that will help the people of Haiti stay healthy during their nation’s recovery,” said Nationals Community Relations Director Israel Negron. “The Nationals organization recognizes the great need for toothbrushes in Haiti, and we are thankful to Small Smiles for their generous contributions.”

Small Smiles of Macon Hosts Free Dental Screenings

Small Smiles of Macon recently hosted free dental screenings in recognition of Children's Dental Health Month. In the clip below, dental hygienist Rebecca Jackson discusses the importance of seeing a dentist.

Children "Say Cheese!" in Youngstown, Ohio!

The Youngstown Vindicator recently ran an article entitled "Say Cheese!" The article shows how the caregivers at Small Smiles of Youngstown are helping to keep kids smiling in their community!

To read the article, please click here.

Small Smiles of Florence Offers Free Dental Screenings

Dr. Medrina Gilliam, Lead Dentist of Small Smiles of Florence, appeared on NBC in Myrtle Beach to discuss her center's "Healthy Smile, Happy Child Day." Watch the clip to see what she says about the importance of oral health for children.

Children's Dental Clinic of Charleston Hosts Free Dental Screenings

Children's Dental Clinic of Charleston hosted free dental screenings for Low Country children. To hear how Dr. Trish and the caregivers at Children's Dental Clinic are helping keep Charleston's children smiling, watch the clip!

Small Smiles of Atlanta Hosts Free Screenings for "Healthy Smile, Happy Child Day"

Small Smiles of Atlanta hosted "Healthy Smile, Happy Child Day" to celebrate Children's Dental Health Month. Watch the clip to see Dr. Edwards from Small Smiles of Atlanta offer a free screening to a child.

Small Smiles of Atlanta and Dr. Steve Adair Featured on Good Day Atlanta

To kick off National Children's Dental Health Month, Dr. Steve Adair appeared on Good Day Atlanta Xtra. Dr. Adair discussed the free screenings that were being held at Small Smiles of Atlanta and the importance of good dental health for children. To hear what Dr. Adair had to say, see the clip below!

Small Smiles Dentist Dr. Chase Dighton Named To Cleft Lip and Palate Team

Dr. Chase Dighton, lead dentist at the Albuquerque Small Smiles Dental Center, was recently selected by Children’s Medical Services of New Mexico to act as lead dentist of the Children’s cleft palate repair team. Children’s Medical Services helps coordinate operations and treatment plans for cleft lip and palate repair for Medicaid patients. The team, comprised of a plastic surgeon, an oral surgeon, orthodontist, speech pathologist and a dentist, work to ensure that each child who undergoes a cleft palate operation receives comprehensive treatment.

Cleft lip and palates are birth defects that can have serious consequences for children, including misaligned teeth, problems gaining weight, slowed growth and development, as well as speech difficulties.

“I am honored to have been selected to be part of the cleft palate repair team by Children’s Medical Services,” says Dr. Dighton. “Through this important work and the care we provide at our dental center, we are helping to bring smiles to the children in New Mexico who need our help the most.”

Small Smiles Parents are Smiling!

At Small Smiles, we welcome the feedback of our patients and their families. Here is what some parents had to say about their recent visit to our dental centers:

“My kids love Small Smiles. It’s the best dentist in Savannah. I love it because it’s very fast and the workers are very nice and [are] always smiling. We love it.”
Terri A., Savannah, GA

“I love the size of the lobby. [It’s] not cramped like so many doctors’ and dentists’ offices. The children had enough room to play and there were plenty of chairs.”
Anonymous, Dayton, OH

“You worked well with the babies and are good with them. You guys have been great with our kids and I thank you for that.”
Michael W., Omaha, NE

“I had to change my insurance a couple of years ago and I can’t believe the difference with the level of care for my children. I am so impressed with the service they receive. Great system and great care!”
Anonymous, Springfield, MA

At Small Smiles, we love to see kids smile!

Update on Children's Dental Health in America

Small Smiles continues to monitor the trends in dental care for children from low-income families.

From November 16- 18, a national online poll surveyed 210 parents of young children in households with annual incomes of $35,000 or less. The survey found that the number of parents who reported that their children lacked health insurance increased from 16 to 19 percent. Additionally, the percentage of parents who indicated a reliance on Medicaid and CHIP for dental care increased from 40 to 53 percent. Both of these indicators showed an increase from May when the first survey was taken.

However, there were positive signs that although more parents are relying on assistance during tough economic times, they are not sacrificing their children’s dental care – instead they are seeking out solutions for care, such as Small Smiles dental centers. Some encouraging signs from the survey include:

• The percentage indicating having to choose between dental care and other necessities for their children decreased from 44 to 38 percent.
• The number of parents who said their child visits a dentist less than once each year decreased from 74 to 36 percent.
• A smaller majority – 70 percent, down from 86 percent – said they have trouble finding a dentist to treat their children.

Small Smiles Dentist Carl Trout Discusses the Need for Regular Dental Visits

In this clip from NBC 6 in Omaha, Nebraska, Small Smiles Dentist Dr. Carl Trout discusses the need for regular dental visits for children, saying:

"People need to remember that by coming in and getting a routine check-up, we can stay on top of manageable small problems...so that they don't develop into larger issues."

Small Smiles of Reno Hosts Free Dental Screenings

Recently, Small Smiles of Reno offered free dental screenings during "Boo-tiful Smiles Day."

During the screenings, Reno children learned how to brush, floss and care for their teeth. The day of free screenings was aimed at raising awareness about the importance of oral health for children.