A Reason to Smile (ARTS) is a nonprofit organization established in 2014 to prevent the spread of dental disease by providing comprehensive clinical care and education to communities in Africa with little to no access to dental care.

 

The organization’s founder, Dr. Gunther Heyder, has set a goal of reaching at least one region of the continent every year to alleviate the suffering caused by dental disease. On each trip, Dr. Heyder and his team will provide people in multiple communities with clinical services ranging from cleanings to extractions.

Equally if not more essential, patients will also receive information about the importance and techniques of proper oral hygiene and infection control, as well as desperately needed products such as toothbrushes. Using this three-pronged approach of dental care, education, and supplies, ARTS aims to empower people in these communities to attain and maintain a higher level of dental health and prevent the spread of dental disease.

 

While the mission of ARTS is focused on dental care, you do not need to be a dental professional to help the cause or even volunteer on an ARTS trip!

 

Get involved today by donating, volunteering, contacting us, and learning more about the state of dental health in Africa.