Tooth Talk
Winter 2017 • Volume 10 • No. 1
BRINGING SMILES TO NEEDY CHILDREN THROUGHOUT CLAY AND PLATTE COUNTIES
Note from the Executive Director - Christy May
Miles of Smiles treated 3,764
patients in 2016! The year 2016
marked our first full year in our new
office at 5536 NE Antioch Road.
The new
office space
and an
additional
dentist
on staff,
allowed us
to see more
emergency
visits, complete more treatment
plans, and overall be more available
to our patients to serve as their
dental home. The relationship that
Miles of Smiles dental staff has with
these children, in the school setting
and at our office, builds trust and a
desire to improve their oral health.
Last year, Dr. Sparks treated a
kindergarten student named Sam
who had never before been to
the dentist. The student was very
Independent and
Proactive Teenager
Miles of Smiles treated a 16-year-old
girl named Sara who has a ton of decay
(almost every tooth.) Sara does not have
much parental involvement in her life. She
brings herself to her appointments and
has basically taken responsibility for her
dental care. Luckily, she lives near our
office and when we have cancellations
she will walk to the office and receive free
dental treatment. She is an energetic,
vibrant young lady. She shared with us
one day this summer, that she got a job at
Worlds of Fun so she would be able to buy
herself and her sister some new clothes
for school. It is amazing that, with all the
challenges she is facing, she continues to
take all the steps needed to get the care
she needs and deserves. We are so proud
to be a part of Sara’s life!
anxious and did not want Dr. Sparks
to check his teeth—he even tried
to hide under a table! Dr. Sparks
counted his teeth during the first
visit, then took “pictures” at the next,
cleaned them at the next and then
performed a few fillings. With each
visit, Sam received hugs and high
fives from the dental team, so even
when his treatment was complete—
he came by the dental clinic in the
school for a morning hug. The hugs,
the oral health education, the free
dental treatment are the immediate
things that Sam got. The longterm benefits of the dental care he
received include self-confidence and
high self-esteem, a beautiful smile
and improved overall health!
At Miles of Smiles we strive not just
to meet immediate dental needs,
but also to lay a foundation of a
positive, dental care experience that
leads to a lifetime of happy smiles
and overall health.
February is National Children’s
Dental Month
National Children’s Dental Month is national
health observance that brings together
thousands of dedicated dental professionals,
healthcare providers and educators to promote
the benefits of good oral health to children,
their caregivers, teachers and many others.
National Children’s Dental Health Month
(NCDHM) began as a one-day event in
Cleveland, Ohio, on February 3, 1941. The
American Dental Association held the first
national observance of Children’s Dental
Health Day on February 8, 1949. The single
day observance became a week-long event
in 1955. In 1981, the program was extended
to a month-long observance known today
as National Children’s Dental Health Month.
Since 1941, the observance has grown from
a two-city event into a nationwide program.
NCDHM messages reach thousands of people
in communities across the country and at
numerous armed services bases.
Each February, the American Dental
Association (ADA) sponsors National Children's
Dental Health Month to raise awareness
about the importance of oral health. NCDHM
messages and materials have reached millions
of people in communities across the country.
Developing good habits at an early age and
scheduling regular dental visits helps children
to get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth
and gums.
For more information about National Children’s
Dental Month, please visit the website for the
American Dental Association at ada.org/en/
public-programs/national-childrens-dentalhealth-month.
Quotes from Parents of Patients
Miles of Smiles came to my son
school and gave him a dental
check up. The staff called me and
gave a full report.They are very
professional and polite. My son
likes them. I couldn't be happier
with the free services. Thank you
Miles of Smiles!!!
OMG!!! Dr Sparks was AWESOME!!
My son was very nervous about
getting his first filling done, and
he was very relaxed with him. I
am recommending Dr Sparks to
anyone who has children, it has
been a very positive experience.
Thanks again!!!
– Jewell, September, 2016
– Shannon, November, 2016
My daughter was able to get a
checkup and sealants applied
free of charge. This really helped
during a tough time. Thank you
so much!!
– Maple, November, 2016
Tooth Talk
Page 2
BRINGING SMILES TO NEEDY CHILDREN THROUGHOUT CLAY AND PLATTE COUNTIES
BRUSH
UP
A LUNCHEON
AUCTION & FASHION SHOW
BENEFITING MILES OF SMILES
Save the Date!
Don’t miss our annual event, BRUSH UP ON FASHION.
This year we have some fantastic silent auction items
from Meierotto Jewelers, the Royals, the Chiefs, Carnival
Cruise Lines, best-selling authors and much more! And
some of the hottest fashions around!
Friday, March 31st, 2017
11:30am-1pm
Argosy Casino in the Grand Ballroom
For sponsorship information, purchase tickets or more
information, please go to milesofsmilesinc.org/events.
We’ll see you on the catwalk!
Dominic’s Story
Dominic became a patient of Miles of Smiles at
age four. He was diagnosed with 8 of his 20 teeth
as being severely decayed. Dominic required two
extractions, three fillings and two crowns. He also
required a space maintainer to hold the space
where his baby teeth were pulled.
Referring Dominic was out of the question
because he was in pain and needed treatment
immediately. Dominic’s extensive dental treatment
was successfully completed in our office with just
two appointments due to the use of nitrous oxide
gas. The “laughing gas” that the dentist uses in
the office allows the patient to relax, and sit still
for longer periods of time for extensive treatment.
When Dominic came to the office six months later,
he only had one little cavity and he demonstrated
much better oral hygiene. Dominic and his family
speak very little English. Without the help of the
school district translators, and the nitrous oxide
we may have not been able to complete his
treatment. We have developed a great relationship
with his father and school nurse, so we hope
Dominic can keep his healthy smile long after this
fifth birthday.
School Schedule
Fill a
Need
The Miles of Smiles Teams will be serving the children of these
schools during the following dates:
Line Creek......................................January 30 - February 20
Smithville........................................February 1 - February 24
Southeast.......................................February 21 - March 13
Eastgate.........................................February 27 - March 14
Platte RIII........................................March 14 - April 14
Chouteau........................................March 15 - March 29
Schumacher...................................March 30 - April 7
PHHS/Congress/ECC....................April 17 - May 5
Liberty Oaks...................................April 10 - April 24
Meadowbrook................................April 25 - May 4
Excelsior Spring...............................May 5 - Through Summer School
Antioch Middle School...................May 8 - End of School
** Please note that we will attend Crestview and Winnwood during
Summer school
Happy Mouth Campaign
Through the Happy Mouth Campaign, we seek
to raise funds for Miles of Smiles to provide
charitable, comprehensive dental care in a
community-based setting for the needy children
of Clay and Platte Counties in Missouri. With each
donation, you will help to “Fill a Need”, and we will
whiten and brighten a tooth with each donation.
We seek to whiten and brighten all 32 teeth, and
we will display the graphic of the Happy Mouth on
our website and in our office. We will list donors
on our website, and thank these supporters
through our social media outlets as well. Visit us at
milesofsmilesinc.org to learn more or donate.
Miles of Smiles provides charitable, comprehensive dental care in a community-based setting for the needy children of Clay and Platte Counties in Missouri.
5536 NE Antioch Road • Kansas City, MO 64119 • (816) 413-9009 • MilesOfSmilesInc.org