TeamSmile, Justin Timberlake team up for Las Vegas access event

Las Vegas鈥擜bout 300 children received dental exams, cleanings, X-rays and restorative care in portable dental units near the 18th hole at TPC Summerlin golf course Oct. 14 during the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Coordinating the care was TeamSmile, the Kansas City, Mo.-based philanthropic initiative that offers dental care for underserved children in conjunction with sports franchises and sporting events. TeamSmile is also one of four Give Kids A Smile Program Champions selected by the GKAS National Advisory Board to build one voice advocating for the oral health of underserved children.

Las Vegas dentists, their staff, staff and students from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine and Colgate all contributed to the Oct. 14 TeamSmile event.

“With the efforts of Gary Davis, Ralph Semb and Gene Bracewell from the Shriners; Steve Kess, chair of the GKAS National Advisory Board; Henry Schein Cares; Henry Schein Dental’s Kelly Martin; Colgate; DEXIS; Dentrix; Alex Furer and Septodont; the event was a wonderful experience for the children,” said Dr. Bill Busch, TeamSmile program director, who also gave a special thank-you to Douglas E. Maxwell, Imperial Potentate of the Shriners of North America.

“Everyone left with smiles on their faces,” said Dr. Busch.

Type A Event and Willie Wilson Baseball also contributed to the event, at which about 300 children received an estimated $240,000 worth of dentistry.

Gary Davis, chairman of the executive committee for the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, extended an invitation to TeamSmile to coordinate dental care at the golf tournament after a TeamSmile event at the East-West Shrine Game, college football’s all-star game.

“TeamSmile is an outstanding program that helps children in our communities, which ties in very nicely with Shriners Hospitals for Children,” said Mr. Davis. “The event was well-organized and well-received by the players who were here. We were all pleased with the volunteers that helped make it run so well.”

Individuals and organizations interested in donating supplies or funds to TeamSmile can contact Dr. Bill Busch at Doctor@drbusch.com or 1-816-668-5576. TeamSmile (www.teamsmile.org) is a 501c3 organization.