History

In the past few years, the serious even fatal consequence of deferred dental care in young people has received growing attention in the United States. In areas where economic hardship is at its highest, oral health care is not seen as a priority in the spectrum of preventative health care needs. A case where a boy died as the result of an untreated abscessed tooth brought this problem to light on NBC’s Nightly News with Brian Williams. This story inspired people, including a Kansas City dentist, Dr. Bill Busch, to reach out to members of the dental community to find a way to make a difference right here in their communities.

TeamSmile was created with the mission of facilitating partnerships between dental professionals, pro sports teams, and dental organizations. The goal of these partnerships is to provide life-changing dental care and instruction to children in their communities who otherwise would not have access to it. TeamSmile believes education is key in making children aware of how important dental care is to their over-all health both now and into their future.

In 2007 the first TeamSmile outreach was hosted by the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs organization promoted a one-day event where dental volunteers provided outreach services at Arrowhead Stadium. On this day, over one hundred children were screened, treated, and educated on the importance of oral health. This event has turned into an annual outreach program supported by the Kansas City Chiefs. TeamSmile has evolved from an event-driven concept to a formal nonprofit organization dedicated to using the power of professional sports teams to draw at-risk children into their first contact with dental care.