For some families, visiting a dentist is routine. For others, it can mean finally getting relief from pain they have lived with for months. That was the reality behind Smiles for Everyone Zimbabwe’s first dental outreach this September, marking an important step towards expanding access to quality dental care in communities across the country.
In 2025, SupportDDS joined forces with Smile Brands and the Smiles for Everyone Foundation, led by Steve Bilt, around a shared belief: everyone deserves a healthy smile. Through the partnership, $300,000 has been invested to help deliver an estimated $7.5 million in dental care, equivalent to $25 in care for every $1 donated.
The investment is supporting the development of four Dental Outposts in Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Costa Rica. These outposts are designed to go beyond occasional outreach. By strengthening local teams and expanding clinical capacity, they aim to create sustainable pathways to dental care for communities that might otherwise continue living with preventable pain.
Over two days, 153 patients received care and 301 dental treatments were provided, while 250 children received oral health education. Among those treated was a father and his son, who arrived experiencing the same persistent tooth pain. Both received the treatment they needed, ending months of discomfort. Also, for nine-year-old Prisca, the impact reached beyond the dental chair. A painful toothache had been keeping her away from school but after receiving treatment, she could return to the classroom without the pain that had disrupted her learning. These individual stories put the numbers into perspective. Each patient represents a person who can now eat, sleep, learn and go about daily life with less pain.
Building a pathway to care
The Zimbabwe outreach is part of a broader effort to move from short-term intervention towards sustainable access. For The51, the partnership reflects a commitment to supporting initiatives that address immediate community needs while building capacity for longer-term impact. The Dental Outpost model is designed to do exactly that: combine direct care with stronger local teams, greater clinical capacity and ongoing access to oral health services.
The first outreach is therefore more than a launch but the beginning of a new pathway to care for communities across Zimbabwe. One healthy smile can change a day and greater access to dental care can change what is possible for an entire community.