Novos Sorrisos – giving smiles to the underprivileged

Edentulism is a real problem in Brazil where 11% of all adults and 41% over the age of 60 have no teeth. Because more than half the population are unable to see a dentist regularly, Neodent launched its Novo Sorrisos (New Smiles) campaign in 2016, which brings dentistry to local communities via a mobile clinic. To date they have travelled more than 11 000 kilometers and seen 5000 patients in 25 cities. In December, the clinic set up in front of Curitiba's Arena Stadium, home of the beloved Athletico Paranaense football team, and received patients for three weeks.

The public response has been so overwhelming that the Novo Sorrisos team acquired a much larger truck housing two treatment rooms fitted with state-ofthe- art equipment and staffed by 200 volunteer dentists from various locations. Their ambition is to reach as many people as possible promoting not only oral health, but also self-esteem.