Fresno State Athletics
Team Smile Day Comes to Fresno State
10/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | General
Oct. 27, 2007
FRESNO, Calif.- When former Fresno State football player Mike Stovall left Fresno State in 2001 he was trying to figure out his path in life. He started as a police officer and then became an insurance sales representative.
Still feeling unfulfilled in his career, Stovall became a dental rep for Sullivan-Schein. It has been working for this Fortune 500 company that has been rated No. 1 for social responsibility for the last four years where Stovall has found his niche.
The former Bulldog offensive lineman is capitalizing on his opportunities to give back to the community. After over a year of planning, Stovall and Bulldog team dentist Xavier Gutierrez, Team Smile Day was brought to Fresno State. It was an event where local dentists in the area provided free oral care for children who otherwise might not be able to afford dental treatment.
By the end of the day on Saturday it was estimated up to 50 kids, who were chosen by Fresno Parks and Rec., received dental treatment.
To help promote the event, the Fresno State cheerleaders, Timeout and members of the Fresno State men's basketball team showed up to play with the kids and sign autographs.
"To see the looks on the kids faces as they hang out with the basketball team and cheerleaders is just as rewarding as running out onto Bulldog Stadium," Stovall said. "Some of these kids want to be that when they are older. I don't think the athletes and the cheerleaders realize what they are doing too."
Team Smile Day doesn't just give kids a 10-minute cleaning. Each kid that visited the dentist in the football annex received an hour of treatment. Some kids left with no cavities while some have had cavities filled or root canals done.
"With the basketball team and cheerleaders here this is a very lighthearted way to be introduced to dentistry," Gutierrez said. "There is a lot of reward when you know you are helping kids. You get to be that person that can make or break a kids dental future."
Nothing has brought Stovall more joy than seeing the looks on kids faces following their treatments.
"A kid ran out and started saying she had no cavities," Stovall said. "Another girl was crying because she had six cavities filled. The girl may be crying now but in the long term her dental health improved. We are here to try and make a small impact on a big problem."
More and more kids today cannot afford proper dental treatment. According to Dr. Bill Busch, director of Team Smile, 50 percent of kids don't go to the dentist. To improve that Busch started Team Smile.
Team Smile has taken place with the Kansas City Chiefs for two years and next year the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints will participate in the event. Fresno State is the first NCAA school to be involved with this. Along with coming back to Fresno State, Team Smile is also set to take place at the University of Oklahoma next year.
"We want this to go national," Busch said. "We want to get the access to care for kids who can't get dental work done. My ultimate goal is that once we get into the city that it becomes a 365 day-a-year program."
Stovall and Gutierrez are looking forward to bringing the event back to Fresno State next year and making it only better.
"By 2010 I honestly see us having 40 doctors and seeing 200 kids," Stovall said.
Team Smile Day didn't just involve kids getting their teeth checked. Thanks to Oral B, all the kids and people involved with Team Smile were able to attend Friday's football game at Boise State.
"I wanted the kids to see the reward of them coming to the dentist," Stovall said.
Sullivan-Schein also donated $40,000 worth of equipment to make Saturday's event happen.
"With out that there is no Team Smile," Stovall said. "
Dentists that Volunteered for Saturday's Team Smile Day at Fresno State
Christopher Audino
Dallen Phillips
Treva Lee
Cory Costanzo
Kurt Whitlow
Xavier Gutierrez
Katina Alfieris
Sami Youssef
Art Mirelez
William Contente
Won Chai Pak
Jason Keledjian
Gary Forester
David Forester
