Smile Factories

Smile Factories continue the dental care provided by Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) during the bi-annual clinics in February and October. Many kids need treatment that can’t be completed during the three-hour appointments. These kids become Smile Factories candidates. Their charts are reviewed and a selected number of these children are referred to private dental offices throughout the St. Louis, MO area that volunteer their dental services.

Whether or not you volunteer at a GKAS clinic, we’ve got little smiles that need our help throughout the year! If you are willing to commit to help a patient or two between clinics, being a part of our Smile Factories program is for you.

Be Part of The Next Big Action! Sign up Today Don’t Wait! Call Patti to add your office to our list!

• Help the kids who had their dental work started at clinic get it completed
• Commit for no longer than 6 months
• See patients on the days, and during the times, that work best for you

Volunteer your skills and dental office

To complete the necessary treatment of a GKAS patient. After completion of treatment, the patient’s records and responsibility is sent back to the Smile Factories/Give Kids A Smile office for record keeping and follow-up. You are not required to take Smile Factories patients beyond the six-month treatment time limit, nor are you required to take siblings or other family members of these patients. We hope that through this program you will be able to continue the fantastic care that has been started at the GKAS clinic!

Smile Factories Patient Screening Criteria

• Multiple procedures needing attention
• Ages Kindergarten through 8th Grade (Ages 5-14)
• May require multiple disciplines for treatment (i.e. Endo, Oral Surgery, Perio)
• Has overpowering financial need and lives at or below the poverty line

Initial Patient Appointment Protocols in Your Office

• Smile Factories/GKAS office contacts your office with patient particulars
• A copy of the patient’s health history, registration, name, address, phone numbers, radiographs, GKAS event records, etc., will be faxed or emailed to your office.
• Patient/parent/guardian will be called by your office for an appointment for the child.

No-show policy for patients

Each child will be allowed to have three (3) no-show appointments. Three no-show appointments terminate the care by Smile Factories volunteer offices. After three no-show appointments, please send the patient records to the Smile Factories/GKAS office.

Failure to complete treatment plan

Each child will have 6 months to complete the necessary treatment. If an extension is required, authorization can be secured by your office on behalf of the patient for an additional 6 months only. Orthodontic care is an exception. 2 years is the initial limitation in the case of orthodontic care.

Once treatment is complete, all patients and their files will be referred back to the Smile Factories/GKAS office.