Dental Restoration Continues to Expand for Members of The Source Through “Dignity Smiles” Program

Nearly four years ago, Anthony Zorbaugh, Executive Director of The Source, which serves the homeless and needy in Indian River County, teamed up with an ardent supporter of the organization.

Dr. Thomas J. Balshi, a Board Certified Prosthodontist (now retired) and Founder of The Pi Dental Implant Center in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, and his wife Joanne M. Balshi, the Director of the Pi Foundation, a charity devoted to caring for those less fortunate.

Together they created a simple but powerful idea: help graduates of the Source’s Dining with Dignity Program take the next step toward employment by restoring their smiles.

A Path Toward Opportunity

Eugena (before) with Dr. Matthew Rolfes of Altitude Dental and assistant

Eugena (After) with her beautiful smile

“Those members who are fully trained by our Culinary, Hospitality, and Community Works programs and prove they are prepared to work as respectable and dignified individuals have been eligible to enter the dental restoration program,” said Zorbaugh.

The program allows for life-changing dental restoration for one client per quarter, all of which is covered through the “Dignity Smiles” program.

To that end, with Dr. Balshi’s dental restoration knowledge and his connection to other dental professionals in and around Indian River County, a single Dignity Smiles dental partnership has now expanded to 12 Florida dental professionals, and since inception, 20 smiles have been given through “Dignity Smiles.”

Current Dental Partnerships

The current dental partnerships include:

· Dr. Sadesh Kumar, DMD, Wickham Dental Care, 2960 Bush Drive, Melbourne, FL

· Dr. Ramon Hernandez, DMD, Endodontic Associates of Brevard, 645 Classic Court, Suite 101, Viera, FL

· Dr. Mailis Soler, DMD, Ms, FACP Viera Prosthodontics & Implant Dentistry, 7332 Office Park Place, Suite 102, Viera, FL

· Drs. Adam Jones, DMD, MS and his wife Dr. Giuliana Diaz Jones , DDS, Premier Dental, 815 17th Street, Vero Beach

· Dr. Denise M. Pieczynski, DMD and Dr. Matthew Rolfes, DMD, Altitude Dental, 1625 20th Street, Vero Beach

· Dr. Eva Napoles, DDS, Nuva Dental, 4000 Atlantic Blvd. Suite 101, Vero Beach

· Dr. Julie Cromer, DDS, Cromer & Cairns Dental, 1225 US Highway One, Suite 3, Vero Beach

· Dr. Renee Gomez, DDS and Dr. Anna Antony, DMD, Harbor Point Dental Care, 2450 53rd Street, Vero Beach

· Dr. Eli Friedman, DMD, One Solutions Dental Specialists of Florida, Consultant (Retired)

A Collaborative Effort

As a professor and surgical Prosthodontist, Dr. Balshi works closely with each Dentist while evaluating every step along the way.

His wife Joanne handles fundraising for “Dignity Smiles," and their son, Stephen Balshi, is a BioMedical Engineer and the President of CM Prosthetics located in Fort Washington, PA. He generously contributes his dental prosthetics to those members in need of his services with beautiful new teeth.

In addition, a special thank you goes to Alex DeCastro, South Florida Director of NobelBiocare, and representative Christopher Sohl for top-of-the-line titanium dental implants, and to Mr. Larry Cohen, the President Emeritus of Benco Dental Supply Co., for the impact that his contribution of a state-of-the-art CAT Scanner has made to the ongoing works of the “Dignity Smiles” Program.

Zorbaugh concludes, “A healthy smile does more than brighten a face. It restores confidence, renews dignity, and reminds some that their future is still full of possibility.”

About The Source

The Source offers life-changing possibilities to residents in crisis; they offer emergency hunger relief, clothing, mental health counseling, support groups, hygiene items, showers, mail and telephone services, benefit referrals, cold weather refuge, and much more.

For those in need, a visit to The Source includes an assessment, followed by an ID badge for use of the facility, scheduled showers, enjoying a free breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and attending any classes currently offered.

To support The Source’s life-changing programs or for more information on The Source, contact Anthony Zorbaugh at 772-564-0202, Ext. 204 or visit www.Iamthesource.org.