Smiles and Beyond

MISSION & VISION: To provide the gift of a restored smile to men and women who have experienced incarceration and/or domestic violence and are committed to rebuilding their lives. VISION Build a network of dental professionals and labs to provide needed services. Work in partnership with other nonprofits providing support services and deliver Smiles to qualified participants. Actively engage and coordinate care for each program participant throughout their entire treatment process.

Smiles and Beyond believes in second chances. It is nearly impossible to develop in our society with very damaged teeth hampering a person's opportunities. While an employer may try to look past damaged teeth to see the real person, often teeth are the one obstacle to employment that cannot be overcome. The rejection and despair caused by being unable to support yourself and your family negatively affects emotional health and well-being.
At Smiles, we know how changing smiles can change lives. We work each day to provide restored smiles to survivors of domestic violence and/or formerly incarcerated men and women who are committed to turning their lives around.
We are not a dental service provider or clinic but rather a resource organization connecting dentists, specialists, and dental labs throughout the Valley with the people who most need their help.
All program participants are referred to Smiles by one of our nine nonprofit partners who are part of the participant reintegration process. We thoroughly screen applicants to assure our volunteer dentists and labs that they are donating their time, talent, and materials to those who have left their old life and are actively making lasting life improvements.
With that special gift of a smile comes confidence and renewed hope. Participants are reuniting with families, buying homes, attending school, and building careers. Homelessness, poverty, and domestic violence are no longer part of their story. They are reaching back to help others like them through a renewed purpose in life.

Testimonials

"When somebody shows you that love, it lights that fire back into your life. I matter. I matter to somebody. This person doesn't even know me but they care about me!" Having a beautiful smile to show off after coming from horrible, horrible darkness is like yes I did it. I'm here." Adrianna

"I had lost everything, was living on the streets of Phoenix and abusing alcohol and drugs. All I really, really wanted and all I desired was that just one day my family would be restored. To me that's priceless. Smiles has been transformative in my life. It's evident in my face, in my smile. You can see how good life really is for me now. Remember when you see somebody without a smile, give them one of yours." Tommy

"When I first met Smiles, it was like a dream come true. I knew if I was given the opportunity, I would do nothing less than exactly what I was supposed to be doing. When I first had my new teeth I just started crying. My life today is totally different. I have a job, a house and a family. I am married, I have custody of my oldest son and a new baby. Smiles looked at me and only saw the good in me. I owe the world to them. "