We love the smiles of our refugee clients and their children when they use a newly learned English word, ride the bus alone for the first time, get a job, or receive an award at school.

Pain that has developed over the years because of limited diet and lack of access to oral health care in refugee camps. Even their history of torture can be the culprit behind mouth pain. While all of our refugee clients have access to basic dental care, many of them need more than just the regular cleaning or filling of a cavity.

The problem is that these services — even the initial consultations — can cost several hundred dollars, and the actual procedures themselves cost thousands of dollars, an amount our newly arrived refugees just can’t afford yet. What happens is their oral health goes untreated, continues to cause pain, causes them to miss work, and can even lead to other health issues. Canopy’s clients aren’t alone in this.

Bright Smiles, Bright Futures: a Living Free Together Compassion Project, will help our refugee children and adults receive the oral care they so desperately need. As a result, these pain-free healthy bright smiles will move our clients towards an even brighter future here in Northwest Arkansas.