Since 2007, TeamSmile's mission has been to facilitate partnerships between dental professionals, professional sports teams, and dental organizations. They work together to provide dental treatment for children who otherwise would have no access to quality dental care and oral health education in their communities. Dentsply Sirona supports this great initiative. During an event in Tampa, 275 children were successfully treated to make them smile again...one child at a time.
On Friday, July 12, the TeamSmile truck and support team stopped in Tampa, FL. Thanks to this TeamSmile initiative supported by Dentsply Sirona, dental professionals successfully treated 275 children. Dr. Terri Dolan, Chief Clinical Officer at Dentsply Sirona, and Keith Clements, Vice President of US Distribution & Customer Support at Dentsply Sirona, handed over a check to John McCarthy, Executive Director of TeamSmile at the Tampa Bay Rays Stadium in Tampa.
In conjunction with the company’s financial donation, Dentsply Sirona donated consumables and equipment, while local sales associates from Dentsply Sirona volunteered at the event. The associates spent time interacting with the children, staying with them through their dental treatments and ensuring that it was a positive and stress-free experience. They also accompanied the children to the fun activities, including a pizza lunch, playing baseball with trainers from the Tampa Bay Rays, face painting, balloons, running around the baseball field, or dancing to the music and enjoying the DJ. TeamSmile wants to ensure kids have a lot of fun while receiving dental care – sometimes for the first time.
Dentsply Sirona began supporting TeamSmile in 2017 at a local Charlotte, NC, event. Based on this positive experience, Dentsply Sirona expanded its support to become a national partner. Dr. Terri Dolan said, “I'm so impressed with TeamSmile’s leadership, mission, and commitment to improving the oral health of at-risk children. It is a great joy and matter of the heart to become a national partner of TeamSmile. The events bring healthy smiles and oral health to children and provide volunteer opportunities for our team members. They get to see first-hand how the TeamSmile, Dentsply Sirona, and community partnerships positively influence children's lives."
In 2007, Dr. Bill Busch, a Kansas City dentist, was inspired by an NBC Nightly News story about a young boy who died as the result of an untreated abscessed tooth due to the family having limited resources and lacking access to health care. Knowing that this tragedy could have easily been prevented, Dr. Bill Busch decided to take action and make a positive impact in his own community. TeamSmile hosted its first outreach program in 2007.
TeamSmile operates as a national non-profit organization. Every year, its program takes place in multiple cities and states around the US, supported by local professional or major college sports teams. In 2018, the organization conducted 29 events, providing more than $2 million worth of free dental care and oral health education to more than 5,400 children. In 2019, they are scheduling between 32-35 events with the goal of providing care for 6,000 children.
“We are thrilled with the partnership with Dentsply Sirona. This partnership aligns us with the largest dental manufacturer in the world. Dentsply Sirona donates resources so that we can provide free dental care, oral health education, and the experience of a lifetime through the power of sports to at-risk children throughout the country,” said John McCarthy. “To me, this partnership shows that Dentsply Sirona really cares. They are using their resources as a force for good, and they are making a positive impact on the lives of less fortunate children. We are truly grateful.”
Please find more information about the project online at: https://teamsmile.org/ and under:
2018 TeamSmile Year in Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5BccDBI8Hc&t=4s
