Glen Allen dentist offering low-cost braces to qualified children

Glen Allen-based White Orthodontics will donate more than $300,000 in orthodontic care to children of families who cannot afford the full cost of braces. Dr. Paul White and his team will host an open house Saturday, Nov. 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at their office, 5237 Hickory Park Drive in Glen Allen, to meet with interested families.

The effort is part of the national Smiles Change Lives program, which counts some 800 orthodontists nationwide among its ranks. The program is designed to help make orthodontic care affordable for qualifying families. Those who are approved for the program contribute a portion of the cost of the care, while the rest is covered by participating orthodontists and sponsors.

On average, braces cost $5,000 per child, making them out of reach for many families. Orthodontic treatment has been considered cosmetic by insurance companies, which provides little assistance even for those who are insured. As a result, many children and teens suffer discomfort and embarrassment from their misaligned teeth.

“We are thrilled to be working with Dr. White, who has committed to donate over $300,000 in orthodontic care,” said Alexis Barclay, director of provider services for Smiles Change Lives. “To make a difference in a child’s health and self-confidence feels great and is the reason we are so excited about this event.”

To qualify for the program, a child must be between the ages of 7-21, have good oral hygiene, not be wearing braces currently, have a moderate to severe need for braces and meet certain financial guidelines (for example, for a family of four in Virginia, the household income must be below $61,500).

Families who meet the program qualifications for Smiles Change Lives are encouraged to attend the open house and bring their child, a copy of their 2016 tax return (listing their child as a dependent) and a $30 application fee to the screening or they can submit an application in advance, which can be found at http://www.smileschangelives.org/apply. Families also may pre-register at: https://www.smileschangelives.org/dr-paul-white-screening-event.

Smiles Change Lives is a national nonprofit formed in 1997 under its original name, the Virginia Brown Community Orthodontic Partnership. Virginia Brown grew up during the Great Depression, and her parents could only afford to pay for orthodontic treatment for one of their children. Brown's sister was able to get braces, but she herself endured years of teasing and self-consciousness until she finally received treatment during high school. Virginia Brown and her son, Tom Brown, established Smiles Change Lives to help children avoid the physical and emotional difficulties that she suffered as a child.