Future Smiles, Nevada’s largest school-based preventive and restorative dental health program, received an unrestricted $25,000 program grant from Nevada’s dental Medicaid program administrator LIBERTY Dental Plan of Nevada (LIBERTY), to support children’s critical dental care in Southern Nevada.
Amy Tongsiri DMD, Nevada Dental Director, LIBERTY, will present the check Feb. 22, 2 p.m., at Future Smiles’ Clark High School building located, 3074 Arville Street Las Vegas, NV 89102.
“We are incredibly excited to continue our partnership with Future Smiles to provide resources and preventive dental care to southern Nevada’s at-risk youth,” said Randy Brecher, President of LIBERTY Dental Plan of Nevada. “Our teams have worked tirelessly to support area children, particularly through the COVID-19 pandemic and this partnership will allow us to continue that mission.”
Future Smiles, a nonprofit agency serving the Las Vegas Valley’s at-risk school-age children, combined with LIBERTY in August to deliver free fluoride treatments and dental supplies to children at the Cordero Pines apartment complex on North Lamb Boulevard.
In a letter to LIBERTY, Future Smiles said the organization, in 2019 – 2020, provided 4,181 oral health screenings, taught 32,418 clients through oral health education, provided 3,446 fluoride treatments and managed 1,667 dental care cases. The group also performed 618 dental cleanings and applied 10,520 sealants. Future Smiles added that 55% of the people it served were on Medicaid and 41% were uninsured.
Since its 2009 founding, Future Smiles has provided low- or no-cost dental services to more than 120,000 at-risk children in Southern Nevada. Services were performed at Clark County schools and at the Nevada Women’s Philanthropy Dental Wellness Center, opened in March 2019.
Since the coronavirus pandemic began almost a year ago, Future Smiles has invested $50,000 in technology and equipment to treat children safely and protect staff.
Future Smiles founder and Executive Director Terri Chandler said LIBERTY’s gift will help deliver essential oral care to many needy and underserved children.
“As an organization, the incredible depth of your company’s support humbles us,” Future Smiles Executive Director Terri Chandler said in an open letter to LIBERTY. “Future Smiles prepares kids for a life of confidence, dignity, and joyful success by restoring any child’s most precious asset — their smile!”
“We could not do our work without you,” she added.
About Future Smiles
Founded in 2009, local nonprofit Future Smiles is Southern Nevada’s largest school-based preventive and restorative dental health program. Since its inception, Future Smiles has provided low-cost or no-cost dental services to more than 120,000 children with critical dental needs who lack access to dental care. Its goal is to improve oral health by eliminating health care barriers ending dental pain and suffering for Southern Nevada’s children. To learn more about Future Smiles or to make a donation, please visit www.futuresmiles.net.
About LIBERTY Dental Plan of Nevada
LIBERTY Dental Plan (LIBERTY) is a national company founded by dentists and health
industry professionals. LIBERTY currently administers dental benefits to over 5.5 million
members across the United States including over 600,000 members and Medicaid recipients in Nevada.
Working in Nevada since 2006, LIBERTY has a team of approximately 200 employees in its Las Vegas office and in the Washoe County and more than 900 employees nationwide.
LIBERTY is organized by the Teamsters and multiple labor groups and has prominent Nevada clients such as the Las Vegas Sands and MGM Resorts. LIBERTY is an industry leader in providing dental benefits and quality, innovative and exceptional oral healthcare. LIBERTY operates and lives by the slogan “Helping Members Shine – One Smile at a Time.”