By Design Dental Implant Center's Share a Smile Program Final Recipient Using Life-Changing Surgery to Help Bring Smiles to Schools and an End to Bullying
King of Prussia, PA (PRWEB) February 02, 2016 -- When By Design Dental Implant Center launched the charitable Share a Smile program on July 15, 2015, they never anticipated the momentum that this program would generate and how much the local community would rally around them and the charitable cause. The Share a Smile program was developed by Dr. Robert Mogyoros, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. John Thaler, prosthodontist, and Rand Jaslow, lab technician, to bring light to the growing need in Philadelphia and surrounding communities for better oral health care and to help a deserving person who couldn’t otherwise afford the help they so desperately need. The Share a Smile program gives this person a brand new smile through a revolutionary procedure called the All-on-4 Treatment Concept, replacing entire arches of teeth. Many people in our local community have lost or are losing some or all of their teeth and this affects almost every aspect of their lives, like seeking and obtaining stable employment, attaining personal relationships, and feeling positive and confident on a day-to-day basis, along with other health problems that may arise from missing or rotting teeth.
Immediately following the program’s launch on social media, an outpouring of applications and supportive comments rushed in from the community. The practice’s Facebook page lit up with heart-wrenching stories from hundreds of people who knew the magnitude of how this gift would impact their lives. One post alone received 179 shares, 142 comments, and 248 likes, resulting in a post reach of 92,302 local individuals. The support and well-wishes between applicants was an amazing thing to see.
The media quickly took notice of this program’s energy. The doctors of By Design Dental Implant Center were featured on the radio, in newspapers, and online, encouraging those in need to apply while educating the public about the growing need for alike programs. Throughout the 30-day application period, the buzz around this program was electric.
After the close of the application period, they had an astounding 355 applications to sort through. They read stories of domestic abuse, car accidents, drug recovery, and genetic disorders and how each applicants’ oral health has impacted their lives. The decision seemed nearly impossible and prompted the doctors to do even more for the community. Alongside other community-based charity work, they are currently working on a crowd-funding option to help those who were not selected and are in desperate need of this procedure, which typically costs $40,000-60,000. They invited all of the applicants to the practice for a consultation and conducted interviews to better assess who qualified for the procedure and would greatly benefit from this donation. After considering medical eligibility for the All-on-4Treatment Concept, financial need, and the utmost desire along with the greatest long-term life benefits, they decided on a final recipient for 2015.
Steven Corleto, a 21-year-old barber living in Langhorne, PA, was born with a genetic condition that prevented him from growing “adult” teeth after his “baby” teeth had fallen out. He was mocked in school, unable to eat the foods he loved, and developed a frighteningly low self-confidence despite being a charismatic and lovable young man. It pained his family who wanted desperately to help him, but couldn’t afford the treatment. The doctors were instantly drawn to his positive and magnetic personality. With a full life ahead of him, the only thing preventing him from accomplishing his dreams was his smile.
Steven received the news at a public announcement on October 20, 2015, at the By Design Dental Implant Center practice. Unknowingly, he was the only applicant invited to the announcement event. He brought his extended family and waited anxiously as everyone was seated and the doctors explained the reasons behind why they chose to provide the Share a Smile program to the community, and what it means to them.
“Our local community has such a growing need for better oral health that just isn’t being met. We feel lucky to be able to give back to someone who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to receive this kind of treatment and drastically improve their life through our Share a Smile program,” said Dr. Mogyoros.
When Steven’s name was called, he and his family burst into tears of joy and applause. A moment unlike any other he’d previously experienced, Steven wept as his trembling hands covered his face. It was a truly life-altering event for the doctors, Steven, and his entire family.
The By Design Dental Implant Center team was able to provide Steven with the ultimate holiday surprise; his All-on-4 Treatment Concept surgery. On December 23rd, Steven’s life and smile officially reached new heights. He shared his happiness through tears, hugs, and plenty of acknowledgments.
The bullying that Steven faced on a daily basis as a kid was the facilitator which catapulted him into deciding to act as an anti-bullying advocate. He has aspirations of speaking to students at elementary, middle, and high schools regarding the detrimental effects that bullying may cause. He is working on a plan and mentorship program that will lead kids to become involved in an interactive session acting against bullying, and empower them to “Be Above Bullying.”
As the inaugural year of the Share a Smile program came to a close, Dr. Moygoros, Dr. Thaler, and Mr. Jaslow could not have imagined a more deserving recipient. As they had hoped, Steven, with a long and prosperous life ahead of him, took this generous gift and will be paying it forward to the community and future children of the Philadelphia area.
Mackenzie May, By Design Dental Implant Center, http://bydesigndental.com/, +1 3154506225, [email protected]
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