Dental Practice Honored with Community Hero Award for Delivering Free Oral Care to Connecticut Families in Need

Benevis celebrates its New Haven-based dental practice for its dedication to the community on Sharing Smiles Day 2023

Local dental practice Sutton Dental & Braces proudly served the New Haven community’s oral health needs by joining forces with parent company Benevis for its eighth annual Sharing Smiles Day on Sunday, May 21, 2023. To celebrate their dedication to addressing the oral health needs of underserved populations, the organization is thanking the volunteer practice and medical teams with Benevis Community Hero Award.

Sharing Smiles Day is a volunteer event established by Benevis to reach children and families in disadvantaged communities that are often overlooked by general dentists. Clinicians and hygienists donated their time to prioritize the delivery of free dental care such as dental exams, limited emergency care, extractions, and restorative care, and cleanings to uninsured or underinsured families. The dental practice located at its New Haven office has been honored with the Benevis Community Hero Award for participating in the event.

“We’re proud to honor Sutton Dental & Braces with the Benevis Community Hero Award for volunteering their time to treat children and families in need of oral care,” shared Dr. Dale Mayfield, DMD, chief dental officer at Benevis. “Central to Benevis’ mission is improving access to essential dental healthcare and creating dental homes for families in diverse communities and those with various forms of insurance, including Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Sharing Smiles Day enables us to impact a broader group of patients, especially for those without insurance, and we're thankful for that opportunity.”

In total, Sharing Smiles Day reached more than 400 children and adults across 11 states and 26 of Benevis-supported practices. The event featured 320 volunteers including hygienists, dental practice support staff, executives, and 40 dentists that dedicated their time to delivering free dental care to uninsured or underserved children and their families. In addition to providing compassionate care, clinical teams educated families about daily brushing, flossing, and the importance of good nutrition for a healthy smile. All participating dental practices and dentists will receive a Benevis Community Hero Award in recognition of their service to families in need.

Since 2015, Sharing Smiles Day volunteers have proudly treated more than 3,000 patients. To learn more about the annual event, please watch our video.

About Sutton Dental & Braces

Sutton Dental & Braces is one of Connecticut’s leaders in Medicaid and affordable dental care for children and their families. Supported by Benevis, Sutton Dental’s five locations serve over 11,000 children on Medicaid annually. Sutton Dental and its doctors are committed to improving lives by providing high-quality dental care in a fun, compassionate environment. To learn more about Sutton Dental, visit www.SuttonDentalGroup.com.

About Benevis

Benevis is a leading dental healthcare delivery organization for practices focused on delivering life-changing oral care and orthodontics to underserved communities. Through comprehensive care and operational services that expand access to dentistry, Benevis has a 20-year history of providing the highest quality care to approximately 5 million children and adults. Its network reaches more than 100 locally branded dental offices across the U.S. that deliver treatment through 1.2 million visits each year. Benevis also advocates for programs and legislation that ensure all families have access to the oral healthcare they need and deserve. For more information, visit Benevis.com.

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