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Organization	Smiles Forever
Region	Bolivia
Website	Website
Facebook	N/A
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ProjectLeader	Sandy Kemper

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The Smiles Forever Dental Hygiene clinic in Cochabamba, Bolivia provides free or at-cost dental care to thousands of children a year. Over the past 22 years, an astounding 60,000 indigenous children have a better future beginning with dental health. A key research project for Smiles Forever is in the nearby highlands zone where the latest in cavity prevention and dental treatment is given. Bolivia still has Covid 19 restrictions for health professionals, so our teaching program is paused.

Challenge

Poor diet, along with virtually no available dental care, has caused a critical health situation. In our 22 years serving the indigenous community, we have treated 60,000 children. Children in 40 shelters have no access to dental care without Smiles Forever clinic's outreach program. We are expanding to provide emergency dental care to Refugio Rafael in the nearby highlands and to give initial and follow-up treatment to school children. We plan to resume training young women as hygienists.

Long-Term Impact

We can make a difference in the dental health of a nation with an ever-broadening ripple effect. Smiles Forever educated dental hygienists not only have treated thousands during the course of their training, but they also work in other ways to serve their community. One graduate went on to become a dentist and now works here in the clinic. Our goal is to bring dental care to more indigenous children and their communities. Our successful model can expand quickly to reach more!