Dr. Chris Woolaver of Woolaver Orthodontics, a member of the American Association of Orthodontics, is volunteering his time and expertise as a dental professional in Tomorrow’s SMILES, a National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (NCOHF): America’s Toothfairy program. Tomorrow’s SMILES helps restore smiles and self esteem while encouraging teens to take responsibility for their oral health.
Through this program, caring volunteer orthodontists provide pro-bono restorative services for a prescreened underserved teen and have access to generously donated products from Invisalign and Nobel Biocare (including Procera).
Woolaver has been an orthodontist for 11 years, the last four years he has been working in Ahwatukee at his own practice. He became an orthodontist after being born with a cleft palate and had braces for 10 years.
He had an orthodontist growing up that was fun and loved his job and he inspired him to do the same. Whoolaver makes giving back to his community a top priority. A lot of his effort has been focused on the Kyrene School District and Ahwatukee community sport organizations.
Woolaver worked with Boys and Girls Club to identify an eligible student in need of orthodontics. According to program requirements, an at-risk teen must be recommended by a local agency concerned with teen health and submit an essay detailing the reasons he or she should be considered for treatment and how a healthy, attractive smile will affect his or her life. Once the teen was selected for the program, Woolaver initiated a treatment plan and is now actively engaged in giving this teen a beautiful and healthy smile.
Tomorrow’s SMILES, with its supportive dental professionals and sponsors, helps rescue youth from a downward socioeconomic spiral resulting from dental pain and neglect. The program makes an impact by giving teens a smile that helps restore their self-esteem, encourages them to take responsibility for their oral health and well-being, and supports their ability to become responsible productive community members.
For more information, visit www.TomorrowsSmiles.org and www.clearsmilesaz.com.
• Briefs compiled from staff and wire reports
