Join Dr. Frank Egan and more than 30 orthodontists and volunteers in New York who are quickly launching their Smiles Change Lives Chapter.  East coast kids need your support to correct their severely deformed smiles.  Compassionate doctors volunteer their time and talents to align what is misaligned, and create hope for low income children who feel hopeless.  All donations received for this project will benefit deserving youth in New York.  Just $500 can Adopt-A-Smile and change the life of a child in need. For more information visit http://www.smileschangelives.org or contact 816-421-4949.  Adopt-A-Smile and give the gift of a new smile for life!


As seen in the American Association of Orthodontists September 2008 Bulletin

Smiles Change Lives Chapter Forming on Long Island, New York, Bringing Smiles to Children Whose Families Otherwise Could Not Afford Orthodontic Treatment

More smiles will be coming to children on Long Island, NY, thanks to Dr. Frank Egan and the Smiles Change Lives (SCL) program.

For the past nine months Dr. Egan, of East Patchogue, NY, has been working to form a chapter of SCL. The program provides donated orthodontic treatment to children of low-income families. His would be the eighth SCL chapter and the first in the Northeast.

So far, he has recruited 21 orthodontists besides himself to donate services and he has assembled a nine-member community advisory board. The group is halfway toward the $20,000 fund-raising goal needed to formally establish a chapter.  "There are kids on Long Island who really need this, and I know there are orthodontists like myself willing to provide the treatment," Dr. Egan said.  "Unfortunately, orthodontics is too often overlooked when access to care is discussed. When you understand the impact that a moderate or severe malocclusion has on a child, you realize the critical importance of providing access to orthodontic care," he added.

Building the Chapter

Dr. Egan began work on the SCL chapter in December 2007 when he contacted
Dr. Zack Faber of Melville, NY, who also had expressed interest in the program.
Dr. Faber became vice chair of the community advisory board.  They then went about recruiting other orthodontists and the rest of the community advisory board. Besides Drs. Egan and Faber, the board includes three general dentists, a CPA, a finance executive, a dental faculty member from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and Dr. Egan's wife, Christine, a marketing professional. They are finalizing arrangements with the university to provide screenings for prospective SCL patients.

The next step has been to build a funding base. They have raised more than $10,000 in grants, awards and public and private donations.  "I've been overwhelmed by the generosity of my fellow orthodontists. From the beginning, it was their willingness to help that motivated me to start this chapter," Dr. Egan said.  To complete most of the remaining funding needed, the group will hold the 1st Annual Smiles Change Lives Turkey Trot 5k Run on Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 27 in Blue Point, NY.  "We hope to have at least 300 runners and raise $6,000 for the chapter. We also are building community awareness of SCL Long Island," Dr. Egan said.

Follows New Fee Structure

The Long Island chapter will follow the new SCL fee structure recently implemented. For each child selected and treated through SCL, the charge from the SCL national program is $750. Of this, $250 is paid by the child's family and $500 is paid by the local chapter. The $750 covers program costs including managing the process of application, screening and review, as well as providing other direct participant, doctor and volunteer support.

Orthodontists donate the entire cost of treatment. Previously, SCL paid $2,000 to the orthodontist to cover equipment and supplies for each case. However the $2,000 represented an additional fund-raising requirement for local chapters and became viewed as a barrier to starting local efforts.  SCL often reviews 10 applications before one child is assigned for treatment, ensuring that orthodontists get the most qualified and motivated candidates, Dr. Egan said. Families are required to commit to keeping all appointments and following treatment instructions.  High praise for Dr. Egan's efforts comes from LeAnn Smith, chief operating officer of SCL at the nonprofit organization's Kansas City, MO, headquarters. She said, "Dr. Egan is such an asset to our organization and ultimately to the hundreds of children who will benefit from his energy. It's pretty obvious that he's a marathon runner because he utilizes that strength and speed on every project he undertakes. He has raised the bar for our organization."  Dr. Egan hopes more orthodontists will get involved. "We are all blessed in so many ways. Just being part of this profession is a gift. We all want to give back - what better a way than by using our talents to help change a few lives."

The seven existing Smiles Change Lives chapters are located in Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota and Missouri. Efforts are under way to build chapters in California, Virginia and Wisconsin.

More Information

AAO members interested in becoming SCL providers can send their mailing information to expansion@smileschangelives.org. SCL will send interested individuals more information. SCL staff members are available to provide support during the start-up process for new programs. For more information about SCL, visit www.smileschangelives.org.

Participating Orthodontists - Smiles Change Lives Long Island

Dr. Jenny Abraham
Dr. David Amram
Dr. Michael Apton
Dr. Paul Cain
Dr. Debra Dobbs
Dr. Frank Egan
Dr. Denise Emma
Dr. Zackary Faber
Dr. Charles Fiorenti
Dr. Inna Gellerman
Dr. Jeffrey Horowitz
Dr. Leon Klempner
Dr. Peter Koblan
Dr. Anthony Maresca
Dr. Robert Palma
Dr. Stevan Pierce
Dr. Susan Rodis
Dr. Scott Schwartz
Dr. Howard Tichler
Dr. Harry Tsotsos
Dr. Pasquale Vitagliano
Dr. Dorothy Whalen