The Smiles For Life campaign is focused primarily on helping kids in need. Thousands of dentists in the United States and Canada take part every year, donating their time and talent to whiten the smiles of their patients for free. The patients, in turn, make a charitable donation to Smiles For Life.
That is as it should be. But when dentists are doing it right, their Smiles For Life patients can become patients for life.
“If you’re not careful, you’ll be tempted to treat Smiles For Life patients like they’re different from a new patient,” says Smiles For Life co-founder Steven J.Anderson.
That, he says, can be a trap. He recommends treating these patients like you expect them to be there for the long haul. Get to know each one, along with their dental health goals. Afterward, invite them to post pictures of their new, whitened smiles to social media, and to tag your office.
These are just a few of his suggestions. The bottom line? “Make a friend, and make a patient for life.”
The best thing about the Smiles For Life campaign is that it helps kids in need. It has raised more than forty million dollars and supports the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation, Feed the Children, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the Ronald McDonald House, and many others.
Smiles For Life runs each year from from March through June. Interested dentists can find out more about Smiles For Life participation. Please visit the Smiles For Life Facebook page to help spread the word!
The Crown Council is a prestigious alliance of dental professionals committed to dental excellence, fighting oral cancer, and to serving their communities and children’s charities.
