Mark your calendar: Friday, March 1 kicks off the 2019 edition of the Smiles for Life campaign, which runs through June. Hundreds of elite dentists across the United States and Canada lend their teeth whitening skills to raise money for needy children all over the world.

“Smiles for Life works very simply,” said Greg Anderson, the head of Crown Council, which operates the campaign. “Ultradent provides the whitening material. [Participating dentists] provide the professional service. The patient directly contributes to the Smiles for Life Foundation for the cost of the whitening, either by check or by credit card.”

Smiles for Life has raised more than forty million dollars since it began in 1998. All of the funds directly benefit hundreds of children’s charities, helping kids who are underprivileged, seriously ill, or disabled. Participating charities include St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, and Feed the Children.

Smiles for Life, one of many reputable children's charities.“The really cool part?” said singer-songwriter Garth Brooks, whose Teammates for Kids Foundation also participates. “100% of the money goes straight to the kids.”

“We have two great partners with Smiles for Life,” Greg Anderson said. “One is Ultradent,” the global dental manufacturing company. “Ultradent provides us with whitening material for absolutely no cost.” The second partner, he continued, is My Social Practice, an award-winning social media strategy firm. “They donate all of the design of all of the marketing materials for the campaign.”

Participating dental practices throughout North America, all of them Crown Council members, donate their teeth whitening services. Follow this link to find a participating Smiles For Life dentist near you.

Crown Council is an association of dental professionals who are committed to promoting oral health, fighting oral cancer, and to serving their communities and children’s charities through Smiles for Life.