Charity brings smiles to kids at TPC Summerlin tourney

Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Home News

Pre-kindergartner Xitlali Huerta practices brushing techniques she learned at the “Team Smile” clinic during the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open on Tuesday.

By Jeff O'Brien (contact)

Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008 | 4:12 p.m.

As some of the best golfers in the world squared off against each other on the rolling hills of TPC Summerlin, 9-year-old Carlmon Jeadrik watched with anticipation — and a bright new smile.

Carlmon was one of more than 240 students from Gene Ward Elementary School who participated in the "Team Smile" program Tuesday, which was held in conjunction with the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

"They cleaned my teeth and I also got some crayons and my face painted," Carlmon said. "It didn't really hurt too bad. It kind of tickled."

The Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, formerly named the Frys.com Open, started Monday and runs through Sunday. Last year's event brought more than 9,400 visitors to TPC Summerlin.

This was the first year Shriners Hospitals for Children and pop superstar Justin Timberlake partnered to raise funds for the 22 Shriners hospitals throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The Shriners hospitals specialize in pediatric care for spinal cord injuries, burns, cleft lips and cleft palates, said Summerlin resident and event chair Gary Davis. Children up to age 18 with such conditions are eligible for care at no charge.

"We're not in competition with other pediatric care facilities because we only specialize in those areas," Davis said. "Many of those hospitals refer patients to us. But cases like colds, flues, broken legs or other surgeries are not handled by us."

Although the closest Shriners hospital to Las Vegas is in Los Angeles, more than 2,500 children in the Las Vegas Valley have been treated by Shriners hospitals over the past decade, receiving about $10 million in care.

"We receive all our funding through donations," Davis said. "Ninety-four cents out of every dollar that is donated goes toward patient care."

Dr. Bill Busch, program director for Team Smile, watched as dozens of children lined up outside the portable dental rooms set up near the 18th hole. Team Smile is a nationwide organization based in Kansas City, Mo., that partners with sports organizations and events to provide dental care for underserved populations.

Inside the rooms, 15 dentists and hygienists from the Las Vegas Valley — along with 65 volunteers — were hard at work offering free dental care. Kindergarten through sixth-graders received everything from X-rays to teeth cleanings, fillings and extractions.

"We see a lot of cavities and kids who don't properly brush," Busch said. "Some of these kids have never even brushed their teeth before."

Colgate also sponsored the event and provided "goodie" bags for children complete with toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss.

Carlmon, a third-grader at Ward Elementary, said he was ready to use his new toothbrush.

"They also said I need to floss more often," he said.

The opportunity to participate in the Team Smile event was an "adrenaline rush" for the volunteers, Busch said.

"They're actually excited to come and see us. It's a dentist's dream," he said.

Jeff O’Brien can be reached at 990-8957 or jeff.obrien@hbcpub.com.