Besides just straightening teeth, we also work hard to bring hope to people who need it. One of our business goals is to commit to a different humanitarian project each year, and then invite our patients to join with us in making a difference. The partnership between our patients and our team is one of our favorite aspects of the work we do here at Smith Orthodontics.
”We have built water wells in Ethiopia, stoves for developing countries, trained artisans in India, and locally we’re currently working on a new playground here in an urban part of Wichita...it’s one of my favorite parts of the job!
Dr. Brian SmithLoves Volunteering in his Community
It's more than just 5 ¢
Wooden Nickel Program
Here’s how it works:
Patients are rewarded with wooden “nickels” for good orthodontic behavior (such as brushing, flossing, wearing rubber bands, etc.). Nickels can be spent toward a variety of gift cards — or patients can choose to donate them to our office project. Smith Orthodontics will match each donated nickel with a financial contribution toward the current project.
Giving back is a reason to smile
Project: Joyn (2017)
Smith Orthodontics recently partnered with JOYN to fund training for artisans in India for an entire year. We’re passionate about this organization because JOYN does incredible work all over the world, simultaneously supporting businesses and lifting people out of poverty by empowering some of the most marginalized populations with skills they can use for the rest of their lives.
In just 4 years, JOYN has helped local entrepreneurs establish 8 different business units, owned and managed fully by local social entrepreneurs, who employ more than 300 artisans that have been lifted up out of abuse, disease, trafficking, addiction, and begging.
We’re so proud that our patients joined us to support this amazing cause! Together, we were able to provide job training to ten artisans for a year.
Success Stories
Project: Stoves
Project: Stoves (2014)
While very few of us are affected by this issue in the United States, 3 billion people across the world struggle with it daily: the women and children who cook every meal over an open fire. Every year, 1.9 million people die from lower respiratory diseases caused by smoke – globally, it’s the #1 killer of children under five. Families also spend vast amounts of time, money and energy to gather and purchase the wood they need for fuel. Additionally, these cooking fires generate 25% of the world’s dangerous CO2 emissions, more than all global transportation-related emissions combined.
Smith Ortho patients gave 5,000 wooden nickels to fund 200 clean-burning, fuel-efficient stoves that were distributed to some of the 3 billion families who need them. These stoves are literally saving the lives of the people who use them, as well as significantly reducing hazardous gas emissions across the world.
Giving back is a reason to smile
Past Projects
Project: Water (2010-11)
The first office project that Smith Orthodontics tackled was the financing of a water well in a small village called Dube Bute (located in Ethiopia). Dr. Brian has dear friends who adopted a son from Dube Bute, and in 2010, this family launched a campaign to bring hope and practical help to the community’s extremely impoverished people. Smith Ortho and our patients came alongside this family, donating 5,000 wooden nickels ($5,000) to build a well and bring clean water to the residents of Dube Bute.
More Than A Smile
We want this to be more than a smile. Your experience should be truly inspiring.
Contact Us
Phone: (316) 634-1230
Email: hello@smithortho.cc
A beautiful and healthy smile naturally leads to greater self-esteem. We will be satisfied with nothing less than the best when it comes to your teeth – the challenge that drives us is to exceed your expectations and give you the smile of your dreams.