Meet Our 2019 $10K Smile Giveaway Finalists
James Stremme - "SOS help me smile again"
"Hello everyone, I’m coming back from being last year's runner up. I was very pleased with everybody’s support for all the contestants. I know for myself and I’m sure all contestants this is not an easy task. For myself, I feel very self-conscious about my smile and have developed massive social anxiety.
I’m thankful Dr. Snyder and his staff gives us this opportunity. I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to smile with beautiful teeth without feeling ashamed. I pushed off my own dental care for my work obligations and responsibilities so long that it became too late to maintain what had. It’s now a heartbreaking problem when I smile or laugh and I notice people getting a glimpse of my teeth.
I try to always keep a beard to hide my teeth and sunken jawline. What really gets me is when my 5-year-old daughter Bella says daddy your teeth are ugly and black. I’m so glad my daughter will never go threw dental problems being untreated. My hope with a new smile is that my social anxiety will go away, that I can open myself more to help impact others' lives, to enjoy talking with my coworkers and my employees, and to participate with my daughter in her activities without her being ashamed of her daddy. My daughter participated in a ballet dance at the learner theater, and they had a daddy-daughter dance that was so sweet, my goal is to perform this dance with her with a beautiful smile. Thank you for the consideration."
Josh Martin - I am nominating my brother, Josh Martin.
"I am nominating my brother, Josh Martin.
Josh is a sweet 31-year-old man who is trying so very hard to get back on his feet. He made some mistakes as a young adult that set him back a bit, mistakes that I'm sure he's not proud of. Through those experiences, God used those times to allow him to grow in wisdom and Josh eventually turned his life around. Unfortunately one of the things that were too late to change was the condition of his teeth and at the young age of 26, he, unfortunately, lost them all. Despite not having teeth, it hasn't held him back from working hard and trying to improve his life.
The downfall to having no teeth at such a young age is the judgment he gets from everyone he meets. While he tries hard to land a solid job, not all employers are able to look past the missing teeth and many probably mistake him for someone unreliable and untrustworthy. If only they knew that he is one of the hardest working young men with such amazing talent that I think Josh is even unable to see. Because of that, it's been difficult for him to make ends meet, but he doesn't let that hold him back and he pushes through. He does just about anything he can to help provide for his family. He and his girlfriend work hard to get a step ahead and it seems as if there's always a big expense that comes out of nowhere. A broken-down car, a medical issue, house issues, etc. I'm sure one day he would love to purchase dentures to improve his smile, his self-esteem, along with his career success, but in true selfless character, he'd rather use any money he does make on his family and just making ends meet. He could never justify spending thousands of dollars on himself and so teeth are honestly the last of his worries.
In addition to that, I can only imagine the embarrassment and anxiety he endures when going to a store, a restaurant, or anywhere out in public. Again, the judgmental stares he likely receives can only push his self-esteem further down. I would love to see him win this smile giveaway, so he can finally receive dentures which will improve his life in more ways than we could probably imagine!
Thank you so very much for your time and for your consideration. I truly appreciate it, and I'm sure he will, too!
Blessings,
Amanda"
Arletha Robinson
"I feel like I am a good candidate for this makeover because it would really make a difference in my life. I have a lot more life to live and I would love a confidence boost. This would raise my self-esteem level tremendously. This is such a necessary thing for me because it can't be good having all these bad teeth in my mouth.
My smile is no longer a smile. I can only smile closed mouth smiles because the few teeth I have are horrible. My smile controls my life, my thoughts, what I eat, my activities, it is the center of my life. Since Middle school, my life has revolved around hiding my smile because that's when my teeth issues began. Even after my dad took me to the dentist that one time, my teeth continued to go bad. By the time I finished high school my mouth was a mess. This has continued until this very day. I don't even have dental records. This makeover would literally change my life! I could finally feel normal, do things other people take for granted. I could kiss my husband intimately, eat nuts, raw vegetables, smile in a picture, make eye contact when I talk, sing without my lips trembling, have fresh breath and be sure of myself.
I have attempted to have something done with my teeth but I did not qualify for the credit care. Financially I will never be able to afford to have my teeth fixed on my own and my husband's insurance pays practically nothing towards it. In addition to not being financially able, I am petrified of the dentist, and on top of that, it's simply embarrassing. There are not enough words to explain how this makeover would change my life. It would be the answer to my prayer that I won't die this way but finally see what it's like to have a beautiful smile.
Thank You"
Ashley Yoder - "Here is my short story... Yea, I know... It's rotten!"
"Hi there! My name is Ashley Yoder. I'm 33 years old from Three Rivers, MI. I am a rural mail carrier for the Elkhart Post office and love it. Running joke is that I joined the family business, as I am a 3rd generation employee. I have awesome 3 kids!
What I don't have is the amazing smile I used to have.
I was a teen mom, which lead to little to no dental care. I couldn't afford it. I brushed, flossed, and thanks to bad genetics, my teeth have steadily declined to what they are now. The running joke I have made is that yep, my mouth is just rotten. My front tooth was broken out by a taco, and my other stub was broken out from surgery I had done for a hysterectomy. Fast forward to today, I have yet to be able to fix them even with my teeth now causing constant headaches, numerous infections, and now abscesses in my nerves. I have amazing dental insurance with the post office, however, A. I have a serious fear of dentists after an awful experience and B. My oldest daughter has a severe case of epilepsy and brain damage due to her seizures...
My dental work that'll cost a few thousand, are back burner to her countless doctor's visits to a specialty hospital, her meds, her equipment, her special tinted glasses... the list goes on. So, her medical care and comfort is my priority, not my teeth...
It's now to a point I don't eat much of anything because it hurts to. I haven't drunk ice-cold water in 3 years. Because it hurts. The nerves above my mouth, under and around the sides of nose hurt and ache... which now causes daily migraines and abscesses in my face.
This giveaway would be such a tremendous blessing! To eat crunchy fries, or drink something that's actually cold and not room temperature again... to just be able to finally smile and talk right.... To not be looked at with judgment once they get a glimpse of my mouth. I've actually had someone tell me that's why I should have done meth! Sorry to disappoint them, but I've never done drugs. Just really bad genetics, and the need to provide for my daughter. Thank you for your time, for reading my story, and considering me for this blessing!
I've attached pictures instead of a video because I can't record a video at the moment. I know, I know, it's rotten!
Thank you all again!"
Here are the results from the 2nd Annual $10K Smile Giveaway Winner, Gilbert (Gib) Bailey.
Our 2018 $10K Smile Giveaway Contest Results
The finalists for our 2018 contest were:
Abbie Deck
Leah Beard
Gilbert (Gib) Bailey
James Stremme
Our 2017 $10K Smile Giveaway Contest Results
The finalists for our 2017 contest were:
Marisol Mercado
Adam S.
Mary Freed
Tamika Williams
And the WINNER of our 2017 $10K Smile Giveaway Contest is...
ERIK ESTES
Below is Erik's incredible transformation!
FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)
Do I have to be a current patient to enter?
No. Anyone is welcome to enter and to tell their friends about our practice and the contest.
What is the best way to watch for information and updates about the contest?
Facebook. Most of the contest will take place on our Facebook page and on our website.
What is the best way to enter?
A video is the best kind of submission. Tell us a personal story of your current smile, what you don’t like about it, and how it has affected you. Explain how a new smile would change your life. Show us your current smile and explain your financial situation and why it has prevented you from fixing your smile in the past. Tug at our heartstrings, make us laugh, and most importantly be yourself!
What if I can’t make a video?
You can use your phone, personal computer, tablet or a video camera to make your video submission. If none of those options are available to you we will accept a photograph with a short story (300 words or less).