Page 15 - America's ToothFairy 2024 Impact

IN THE GAP PROGRAM
Sergey’s Story
This year seven children in need of restorative dental care received life-changing dental services and access to a dental home to help them get the routine care they need to prevent future tooth decay.
One of those kids is three year-old Sergey,* who recently immigrated with his family from one of the poorest nations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Sergey’s father brought his family of five to the other side of the world in order to provide a better life for his children. Although he secured a job, the family was still living well below the federal poverty level.
Because of his family’s green card status Sergey is ineligible for Medicaid. But that didn’t stop our Dental Resource Program member in Kansas City, MO from providing an exam, cleaning, and fluoride treatment for Sergey and his older brother and sister at no charge.
The staff discovered rampant tooth decay and dental abscesses on Sergey’s older siblings and cavities on three of Sergey’s teeth. After treating the urgent dental needs of his siblings, little funding was left to provide early intervention for Sergey to prevent a similar outcome. That’s when they reached out to us for help.
Thanks to the funding we received from a generous donor, we could help our partner restore Sergey’s smile to good health as well as establish a dental home for his family for the first time in their lives.
The benefit of connecting kids like Sergey with a dental home is what sets our mission apart from other charitable dental service programs. Children need a lifetime of routine dental care in order to keep their mouths healthy. Our partners not only address immediate dental needs, but also provide essential preventive dental services for kids so they can break the cycle of poor oral health and grow up with healthy smiles!
*Patient’s name has been changed to protect his privacy. Not all grantees have provided photos. In some cases, stock photos are used to represent a patient’s gender, age and ethnicity if known.
Click here to learn more about
In the Gap and how you can sponsor a child’s restorative dental care.