Say cheese! When someone whips out a camera, you want to make sure you’re photo-ready with a smile – right? Or, maybe you’re meeting someone for the first time and you want to make a friendly impression by flashing your pearly whites. Whatever the case may be, a smile is often the first line of defense in our arsenal of kindness. However, it can also be a major source of insecurity for many people living with dental degradation, missing teeth, or other oral health conditions. In some of those cases, smiles are oftentimes hidden under a veil of waning confidence. There are many number of reasons people might go their whole lives without dental repair – the cost of procedures being one of the leading causes. This is where the experts at Cornerstone Periodontics and Dental Implants can swoop in and save the day.
With the Good Neighbors Smile Makeover campaign, Dr. Anderson and his team make it their mission to grant repaired smiles and restored confidence to individuals in need all across Western New York. For one patient, Rose Wright, the procedure felt like “winning the lottery” as it transformed her social life and boosted her professional work. Growing up in a family with ten kids, Rose says she lived without fluoride or an emphasis on dental hygiene. Later in life, after starting a family of her own, her own dental needs took a backseat as her kids became her priority. Eventually, her condition took its toll on her mental health. “I became more reclusive, I avoided a lot of things in my life. I would have to think about.. if we were going out to eat, what can I eat that’s not going to be a challenge for me? Or, who am I going to see and how can I cover up my face?” As a pediatric physical therapist, Rose’s work with her clients and their families is very front-facing. She says that the mask requirements during Covid made things easier for her to face families, since everyone’s mouths were covered and she didn’t have to worry about her teeth being seen. Once the mandates were lifted, Rose went searching for a solution and she found the Good Neighbors Smile Makeover.
When Dr. Anderson met Rose, she told him, “If anyone needs this more, choose them first.” It was that generosity which let Dr. Anderson know that she was the right recipient for this campaign. According to the doctor, her procedure was extensive – having removed all of her upper teeth, lower teeth, and placing at least ten implants. Not only is Rose now able to smile with confidence and eat apples again, her work as a health care provider has flourished. “I’ve done some college lectures… I found an exercise program and, last year, introduced it to a multitude of pre-schools in this area. Met with the directors, met with the teachers.. which, two or three years ago, I wouldn’t have even thought about doing because of the number of people I would have had to talk to.” Rose went from hiding her smile and shying away from social and professional opportunities, to now sharing her story on television and thriving in her work.
And, Rose isn’t the only one! The kind folks at Cornerstone Periodontics and Dental Implants have gifted these smile makeovers to 15 patients. You can find more patient testimonials here.
When thinking about ways to spread hope, a simple smile can act has the first step in times of distress. For those who don’t feel comfortable sharing a smile, it can be a detriment to their confidence and, in many cases, the well being of their mental health. Practices like Cornerstone Periodontics, and health care providers like Dr. Anderson, are shining examples of ways you can use your expertise to spread hope, kindness, and joy without worrying about your bottom line.
