Upcoming Oral Health Campaigns
Standing Rock Reservation, North and South Dakota: April 27-30th, 2026
Spirit Lake Reservation, North Dakota: September 27-30th, 2026
Standing Rock Reservation, North and South Dakota: October 4-7th, 2026
Restoring Smiles with Trust, Honor and Respect.
Since 2003, Smile Network International (SNI) 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 expanded to address oral health disparities, delivering vital dental care to Native American and underserved communities where access is severely limited.
Native American children experience untreated dental decay at rates five times higher than the national average, and rural Tribal Lands often lack licensed dental practitioners entirely. To address these urgent needs, SNI developed a school-based model that brings care directly to children in familiar, trusted environments—eliminating transportation barriers and addressing historical mistrust. Semi-annual, three-day clinics provide consistent, high-quality care that prevents disease progression and ensures long-term impact.
After two years of planning, we are proud to announce the successful completion of our Tribal Nation Dental Health Campaign pilot, held in October 2024 and October 2025. Over the course of thirteen months, the study delivered clinical intervention resulting in over $425,000 in services to 745 children on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Most impressive, the pilot resulted in an 80% reduction in the number of children identified as needing urgent care from start to finish.
Looking ahead, SNI will return to Standing Rock in Spring and Fall 2026, in partnership with Boger Dental and Elk Plaza Dental, to expand access to preventive care and essential dental services. Our efforts ensure healthier futures for children, support families, and empower communities—bridging the healthcare gap one smile at a time.
“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
Join Our Team
The program has experienced meaningful success, and we are recruiting volunteer dental professionals to participate in all-expense-paid 3-day trips throughout the United States to bring oral health care and education to underserved Native American populations.
Our participants tell us that what matters the most to them is not just the statistics; they see the extent of the need clearly. They see prevention working the way it should and feel the connection that happens when care is delivered consistently and respectfully. Most importantly, participants tell us that their engagement in the campaigns has been one of the most grounding and meaningful clinical experiences they have had the opportunity to be a part of.
Interested in helping expand the success and efforts currently underway? Come join us and be a part of our team. Be the reason someone smiles and volunteer for a dental campaign today!
