ESCONDIDO – For roughly 10 years, an orthodontist from Escondido has used his practice to help children who can’t afford treatment by providing pro-bono orthodontic services for kids who need braces.
Dr. Brad Baker of Baker Orthodontics is one of a handful of orthodontics businesses in San Diego County that has partnered with Smiles Change Lives (SCL), a nonprofit that has worked with more than 15,000 families nationwide that can’t afford the full cost of braces.
For almost a decade, Dr. Baker has committed to helping at least 2 kids at a time. He explained that each case can take up to two years from start to finish, which makes the end result well worth it.
“It’s fun to see the before and after of the whole process,” Baker said. “They come in with a really significant need to have the treatment done, and they can’t afford it, and when we do that treatment for them, and we see how much it transforms their lives, that means a lot. It’s really gratifying.”
Baker Orthodontics recently reopened after 2 months of being shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since reopening, Baker has implemented multiple health and safety measures to protect his patients.
These include health screenings, mask requirements and social distancing. He also uses high-speed suction tools to prevent the spread of droplets and aerosols from a patient’s mouth.
“I wanted to find a way to help out kids who couldn’t afford orthodontic treatment. I wanted to do something locally to help kids with this need,” Baker said. “The kids that I’ve worked with have been very grateful for the services that they’re getting. We get nice thank you notes and gifts at the end of treatment to show their appreciation.”
Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., SCL was founded in 1997 and now works with more than 750 orthodontists in the U.S. and Canada.
Families who are interested in the program, must go through an application process to determine their financial need and are asked to pay a $650 fee.
Melanie Johnston, director of marketing at SCL, told The Coast News that the fee doesn’t pay for treatment, but it’s a way for families to pay it forward and is used to find more doctors and continue the work.
“Most orthodontists donate care anyway as part of their community involvement, but the problem is that they don’t know who really needs help and who doesn’t, so we screen families for their pro bono care to make sure there is a financial need and that both the kids and the doctors find the right fit,” Johnston said.
SCL is raising money for their cause with Walk Run Smile!, a virtual fun-run challenge. Anyone can participate with a $10 donation that will benefit SCL. For more information, visit SmilesChangeLives.com.
“We get cards and letters and calls from kids and their moms where they say ‘you have no idea what you’ve done for my child. My child wouldn’t smile, they would talk with their hand over their mouth, they wouldn’t make eye contact with people,’” Johnston said. “It’s just amazing what a difference it makes in the child’s self-esteem and in their confidence.”
