Dr. Vidhyalakshmi Sampath has been serving patients at Bright Now! Dental for over 11 years. During this time, she has helped many patients improve their oral health and even detected a cancerous lump in a patient’s mouth, which ultimately saved the patient’s life. Dr. Sampath is an enthusiastic volunteer for Smiles for Everyone Foundation and has given her time and skills to help people in need throughout her community.

  1. What first got you interested in providing free dental care to your community?

    The credit for this goes to my parents. They have always instilled in me the spirit of paying it forward. I consider myself very blessed, to be in the profession that I am and for the life that I get to lead every day. Giving back is about remembering how many people helped us get where we are and to acknowledge our own blessings. I consider it a form of repayment of blessings. I am grateful to work in an esteemed organization with a visionary leader who considers paying it forward a very big deal. If I can use my skills to help fellow humans, to feel healthier and to be able to smile, I consider it the greatest blessing.

  2. Describe how you’ve partnered with the Smiles for Everyone Foundation.

    We had a “Day of Giving” event in 2012 at our Tower office in CO and one again in 2018 at our Lakewood office. We have also received support from the Foundation to help a patient get her much needed dental work.

  3. How does it feel to work for a company that shares your values about giving back?

    Very grateful. Not everyone gets an opportunity to work for a company with a leader like Steve Bilt, who has such values. Whether I shop on Amazon Smile or utilize my skills to restore a smile, I feel incredibly supported by Smile Brands.

  4. What are some of the risks associated with neglecting dental care?

    Dental care is affordable. Dental neglect, on the other hand, becomes expensive. It is not just expensive for the wallet but also takes a toll on the human body. There are so many factors that go into keeping our body healthy, and it all starts with the oral cavity. The mouth is the gateway to the body. Starting with how periodontal disease has a connection with other diseases in the body, to how malaligned teeth can affect headaches, periodontal disease, TMJ problems etc, and, right down to early detection of oral cancer, a neglected mouth can wreak havoc on the entire body, sometimes stealthily and silently. Having restored many smiles, I have also seen what a neglected mouth can do to one’s self esteem, and how rejuvenating it can be to one’s self esteem to get the smile back.

  5. What advice do you have for the 40% of adults who put off going to the dentist each year?

    It is important to have regular dental checkups. Our lives get so busy that sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves. Regular checkups become reminders of what we need to do to keep up with daily care. A prime example is periodontal disease. This disease is very akin to Diabetes. It is either under control or active. So, the checkups will determine if the disease is still under control or not, and, the hygienist can help keep the bacterial content down by professional cleaning. If neglected, periodontal disease ultimately leads to tooth loss. Active periodontal disease maybe a sign of something else wrong with our bodies, like heart disease, higher risk for stroke or pancreatic cancer or even uncontrolled diabetes. Taking care of our dental and oral health is extremely important, to keep our bodies healthy in the long run.

We extend our sincere gratitude to  Dr. Vidhya Sampath for her dedication to helping others and delivering smiles for those in need!

Philippines

Rache Macaranas

Administrator

Col. Percy Macaranas

Administrator

Operating from two locations (Mindanao and Luzon), the Philippines team bring dental care to those most in need, including PDLs (Persons Deprived of Liberty) in city jails and remote tribes like T’boli tribe that often require seven hours or more of travel over rough roads to reach them.

Laos

Dr. Sonexay Kounlavong

Lead Dentist

Good Begin

Administrator

Though they faced economic challenges and massive regional flooding in 2024, the Laos team worked hard to serve their community, including students attending a monastary. This outpost was organically developed by the Thai team, and the two regularly do outreach together.

Rwanda

Dr. Jesse Wong

Lead Dentist

Launched in January 2025, our newest outpost is led by Dr. Jesse Wong, a Canadian dentist who has lived in Rwanda for 10+ years.

With just two dentists for every 100,000 people in the country, the team is gearing up to treat over 4,000 people in their first year of operation, meeting serious needs in the region, where tooth decay in up to 50% of children is due to high levels of fluoride in the drinking water.

Thailand

Dr. Wata Siyootagrai

Lead Dentist

Narissara (Oh) Jearajetchai

Administrator

Working tirelessly to build partnerships and expand operations, our Thailand outpost has served schools, communities and remote tribes.

In 2024, they have placed their focus to serving refugees from Myanmar, the homeless, children in orphanages, and sex workers—those who have the least access to dental care.

Ghana

Dr. Tinuola Esther Mark

Lead Dentist

Kwesi Oduro-Korankye

Administrator

Ghana won the 2024 Outpost of the Year Award for its outstanding work. By partnering with the Ghana Health Service, this outpost has recruited and assigned dentists to each district of the Ashanti region, ensuring comprehensive care.

Paraguay

Judah Mooney

Director, Diaconia

Pablo Ortiz

Administrator

Dr. Andrea Lopez

Lead Dentist

Paraguay was our first outpost, and began with one doctor serving once a month.


Today, the Paraguay team operates a mobile clinic, partners with dentists at their clinics, and runs a program at Guternburg School.

Central America

Dr. Reyes

Lead Administrator

A dedicated team of volunteer dentists provide much-needed care to communities in need. This year, the outpost partnered with a youth organization, offering services and education to children and adolescents who otherwise don’t have access to dental care.

Mexico

Jesus Perez

Director

Using innovative strategies and technology to increase efficiency and overcome barriers, the Mexico outpost is connected with key universities in the area to collaborate with dental school students.



The team also opened a Smiles Dental Consultation Room for patients who need follow-up from the larger outreaches.

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