Dentsply Sirona Supports Water Street Mission and TeamSmile

Giving back to local communities and people who need help—this is why Dentsply Sirona participates in two particular projects in the United States. Supporting both programs—Water Street Mission and TeamSmile—help address the needs of vulnerable communities with limited access to dental care. Dentsply Sirona’s contribution ranges from equipment and supplies and financial donations to its employees’ personal commitment through voluntary work.

Supporting Water Street Mission for nearly a decade

Since 1905, Water Street Mission provides help to needy and homeless people in the community of Lancaster, PA. Its goals are to restore their residents’ health and to prepare them to re-enter society. For the latter, the institution’s staff trains and assists them regarding job placement services. Above all, however, the non-profit organization provides housing and meals as well as medical and dental care. For more than eight years, Dentsply Sirona has supported Water Street Mission by supplying dental care supplies and equipment. Greg Kessler, Vice President of Health Services, Training, and Education at Water Street Health Services, says, “It’s difficult to summarize the enormous positive impact Dentsply Sirona has had with their support of Water Street Health Services. Over the years, their relationship has allowed state-of-the-art care to be provided to our patients with supplies and equipment that is second to none. Their generosity and genuine care for the community is an example of how a benevolent partnership should work. Our ‘thank you’ cannot be overstated.”

Free dental care for over 350 patients in the first quarter 2019

In addition to its own five-person team, Water Street Mission relies on the commitment of 11 local dentists who donate their time and provide free dental care to local residents. The clinic staffed by volunteers operates four days per week and for a four-hour span each. Most of the volunteering dentists are on the monthly schedule for an average of 152 hours per year. In the first quarter of 2019 alone, they had already served more than 350 patients. Keith Clements, Vice President, US Distribution and Global Account Executive at Dentsply Sirona, says, “We are honored to provide support to Water Street Health Services, an organization that improves the lives of people on a daily basis through their care and services. We look forward to continuing our support in the years ahead.”

TeamSmile establishes partnerships for disadvantaged children

In comparison to the Water Street Mission’s local activities, TeamSmile operates as a national non-profit organization. Since 2007, its mission is to facilitate partnerships between dental professionals, professional sports teams, and dental organizations. They work together to provide dental treatment for children who otherwise have no access to decent dental care and oral health education in their communities. Every year, the TeamSmile program, supported by the local professional or major college sports teams, takes place at different cities and states around the country. At a recent TeamSmile event in Charlotte, NC, in March 2019, Dentsply Sirona helped sponsor the program; additionally, Dentsply Sirona also participated in Charlotte’s annual charity golf tournament that supports the TeamSmile program with the Carolina Panthers. During the Charlotte TeamSmile program, more than 200 children received free dental services ranging from extractions to sealants and health education. Along with the company’s financial donation of $10,000, Dentsply Sirona donated five units of its ultrasonic scaling system, Nupro Freedom, including foot pedals. In addition, Dentsply Sirona employees volunteered at the event. They spent time interacting with the children before and after their treatments. Moreover, Carolina Panthers players and cheerleaders attended the program, took photos with the families and encouraged the children to look after their teeth in order to prevent oral diseases.

“We are thrilled to partner with Dentsply Sirona to help us provide free dental care and oral health education to underserved children throughout the United States through our TeamSmile model,” said John McCarthy, Executive Director of TeamSmile. “Dentsply Sirona is the largest dental manufacturer in the world, and it’s wonderful to see that the leadership and the employees have made the commitment to give back and make a positive difference in this world. The underserved children of this country are the beneficiaries of their kindness.”

TeamSmile’s plans for 2019: Up to 36 events planned in 2019

Allison Zora, Marketing Communications Manager at Dentsply Sirona, reflects on the Charlotte event, “Giving back at the TeamSmile event in Charlotte was a great way to be reminded of why we do what we do and the remarkable impact Dentsply Sirona products can have on both patients and clinicians. Not only did we get to support our local community and make a positive impact on children’s lives, but we were able to build team comradery by working together outside of the office.”

In 2019, TeamSmile plans 33 to 36 events to care for 6,000 to 7,000 children. In comparison, in 2018, the program comprised 29 events where more than 5,400 children received free dental care worth over $2 million.

Keith Clements, Dentsply Sirona’s project lead, says, “We look forward to expanding our support of this organization that provides care for the needy and specifically their focus on improving the oral health of children which aligns to the mission and vision of Dentsply Sirona.”

Please find more Information on both projects online: