Past Oral health Campaigns
Standing Rock Reservation, South Dakota: October 22-25th, 2024
Standing Rock Reservation, South Dakota: April 22-25th, 2025
Upcoming Oral Health Campaigns
Standing Rock Reservation, South Dakota: September 28-October 1st, 2025
Standing Rock Reservation, South Dakota: April 19-23rd, 2026
Standing Rock Reservation, South Dakota: October 4-8th, 2026
Restoring Smiles with Trust, Honor and Respect.
Since 2003, Smile Network International has provided life-changing cleft repair surgeries and essential healthcare services—free of charge—to under-resourced children and young adults worldwide. Our mission has since expanded to address disparities in oral health, bringing vital dental care to Native American and underserved communities where access is critically limited. The nationwide shortage of licensed dental practitioners has left many rural communities without adequate care. Nowhere is this gap more evident than on Tribal Lands.
After three years of planning, we are proud to announce the successful completion of our two-part Tribal Nation Dental Health Campaign pilot launch that took place in October 2024 and April 2025, in partnership with the Standing Rock Tribe in North and South Dakota. Alongside our partner, Boger Dental, we provided dental care to 431 students from kindergarten through twelfth grade—many of whom had never seen a dentist. More than 98 children were identified with urgent dental concerns, underscoring the need for continued care to prevent serious health complications, emergency visits, and hospitalizations.
We’re proud to return to Standing Rock in October 2025 with Boger Dental and Elk Plaza Dental to continue this critical work. We are committed to bridging this healthcare gap as we will continue to provide ongoing preventive care and essential dental services.
Together, we can help restore smiles and improve lives for generations to come.
“American Indian and Alaskan Native children have five times as much untreated decay in their permanent teeth from ages six to eight as compared to the general U.S. population. One factor that continues to play a dominant role in this inequality is access to care.”
— 2017 IHS data study
role of tribal liaison
It is the responsibility of the Tribal Liaison to ensure that we honor your unique culture, respectfully recognize historical traditions, and preserve the wisdom of elders as we work together to achieve life-altering outcomes for your people. The Tribal Liaison engages Tribal Leadership to establish trust and facilitate a partnership with Smile Network International to improve oral health.
