History Walk For Smiles

Come join us for our very first historical walk around the Riverwalk! Suggested donations start at $25. With your donation you will receive a limited edition History Walk for Smiles shirt.

HOW TO JOIN US FROM HOME

We are encouraging others to participate in their own locations by finding a landmark nearby. This can be an art sculpture, building, well known local shop, mural, anything that is unique to your town! Take a picture in front of your place of choice wearing your History Walk For Smiles shirt. Don't forget to tag and follow us on Instagram! @tdasmilesfoundation and #historywalkforsmiles 

About TDA Smiles Foundation
TDASF has provided 2,936 Texans with $2,080,084 in charitable dental care in 2019, including low-income families, the elderly, medically fragile, veterans, and those with chronic illness who must receive dental care before being placed on transplant lists or given chemotherapy. The need for dental care is great, and we address this need through our very successful programs: Texas Mission of Mercy (TMOM) and S.M.A.R.T Smiles. We are also rolling out a new program to provide dental care to domestic minor sex trafficking survivors.

Mission Statement
Our mission is to improve access to dental care for the under-served of Texas and to educate the public and profession about oral health.

Needs Statement
For many uninsured and under-served Texans living with disabilities, chronic illness, or in poverty, oral health care must take a back seat to basic needs such as food and housing, and other much more expensive medical and accessibility costs, often resulting in chronic oral disease and severe pain. However, the impact of unchecked oral disease extends beyond the damaging effects found in the mouth. Oral disease can lead to poor nutrition, excruciating pain, serious systemic illness (such as diabetes and heart disease), and a diminished quality of life and life expectancy. Oral disease also has damaging effects on local communities by keeping children out of school and parents home from work, as well as overcrowding in emergency rooms by those seeking relief from oral pain. This in itself can lead to millions of dollars in unpaid hospital bills and a strain on local economies. The latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that in 2010, Texas continued to have the highest uninsured rate in the nation at 24.6 percent. The areas in Texas with the highest uninsured rates are also the areas with the highest poverty rates and lowest median incomes in the country. Only 4.6 percent of total health care spending in Texas is directed toward oral health, and Medicaid only covers life-threatening dental procedures. Therefore, many Texans are left without access to basic dental care. Poverty plays a large role as well; only 36% of Texans in poverty visited the dentist in 2013, compared to the 77% of people making more than $50,000 a year. Without the ability to work, this population simply cannot afford the pain-relieving dental care they need to improve their quality of life, and in many cases, actually, extend their life.

Testimonials
"Thank you so much for helping me and my sister... You have changed her life. A big thank you to all the volunteers, doctors, assistants, everyone that came out to help. They were all so kind and very hard working. Thank you from the bottom of my heart." -Joe A., TDASF patient "I am ever more grateful for the services that I received this past Friday in Mesquite, TX. I was treated with love and care by all the staff and volunteers. As a way to give back, I want to become involved as a volunteer at the next event. Thanks from the bottom of my heart! Hugs." -Monique R., TDASF patient

For additional information about our programs, please visit our website at: tdasmiles.org.