When Dr. Edwin Smith first became a dentist in southeastern Kentucky, he quickly became used to seeing patients whose teeth were in poor shape.
A native to the area, he said that for many, the visit to his office was their first time seeing a dentist. In his region of the country, tooth decay and dental health issues are rampant, largely due to the poverty and addiction that plague the area.
Additionally, more than half the people there don't have dental insurance, and so they can't afford the care they need. So Smith decided to do something about it.
Not only does Smith provide much-needed and affordable care to those who need it, but he's also started an initiative to get the younger generations in the habit of paying attention to and caring for their teeth.
In 2005, Smith bought an old tractor trailer and converted it into a mobile clinic, and started visiting schools in some of the state's most rural and remote areas, providing free dental care to children from age four to 18.
In the 11 years that have passed, Kids First Dental Services has provided care to more than 43,000 kids in need throughout Kentucky, helping them with problems and also teaching them how to properly care for their teeth and gums — skills that will keep them healthy throughout their lives. And he treats them, regardless of their ability to pay.
Check out what Smith is doing for his community below, and how he's transforming the smiles of thousands.
[H/T: CNN]
During his 27 years of work as a dentist in his home state of Kentucky, Dr. Edwin Smith has seen a lot of unhealthy teeth, many of them in the mouths of children.
Kentucky has regions of intense poverty, and malnutrition leads to all kinds of health problems in kids, including dental issues.
But sadly, many of their families can't afford the costs of dental care.
The result is that kids grow up missing and losing teeth prematurely, which can impact their confidence as well as their employment rates down the line, continuing the cycle of poverty.
So Smith decided that he would help kids in some of the most remote parts of the state.
He spent $150,000 of his own money and bought an 18-wheel tractor trailer, converting the trailer into a mobile dental clinic
The clinic, called Kids First Dental Services, travels the rural roads to schools, where kids can get checkups and dental care — for free.
He started by only visiting a few schools, but soon, more and more schools were asking him to come by.
Smith and his staff also provides them with education on dental and oral hygiene.
"People let their teeth go," Smith explains, saying that for many, tooth decay and loss are taken as a fact of life, especially for families struggling to put food on the table.
"That's why it's so important to educate the kids. If you teach them early on, they'll take better care of their teeth and won't have these problems later in life."
Kids First provides dental exams, cleanings, X-rays, fluoride treatments, and sealants, all of which are preventative measures aimed at keeping teeth healthy.
Restorative work, like fillings and extractions, can't be done in the mobile clinic, but Smith makes sure that the kids who need it can either come to Smith's brick-and-mortar practice, or they're put in contact with dentists in their area who will provide the services.
Larger companies are also catching wind of Smith's practice, and many have donated money and materials to help him keep up his work.
WalMart, for example, donated a large sum recently.
How have Smith's efforts impacted communities? According to Smith, it's making a huge difference.
"When I see kids at schools we've been providing treatment to for 10 years, and how much the incidence of tooth decay in the kids there has been reduced, that's motivation enough," he says.
"I've had people get up out of the chair, look in the mirror, and cry. People who, before, wouldn't even let you see their teeth, and now they've got these big, wide smiles. That's one of the most rewarding things."
If you'd like to make sure kids are able to get free dental care, consider donating to Kids First Dental Services, and check out their website to learn more about their services.
What do you think of this caring dentist's work? Let us know in the comments below!
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