Dentist helps children by whitening their teeth

Staff report

Hubbard

Since March, almost 2,500 dental patients opted to whiten their smiles for a good cause, resulting in a $25,757 donation to the Rich Center for Autism.

Staff from Braydich Dental presented a check to the Rich Center on Wednesday marking the end of their “Smiles for Charity” drive, an annual push for donations the practice began in 1999.

Dr. Rudy Braydich, director of the East Liberty Street practice, said the goal is to help local children.

“An organization like the Rich Center is expensive to run,” Dr. Braydich said. “We’re happy to be a part of that.”

Dr. Braydich selects a cause each year that benefits local children by offering discounted dental work, donating the proceeds to the chosen organization, and improving the smiles of thousands of local patients at the same time.

The regular price of whitening is $299, but for the fundraiser the fee was $100. Staff at the practice said that participants were a mix of current patients and new faces.

Lisa Long, associate director of development at the Rich Center at Youngstown State University, said state funding pays to keep the center operational only from July 1 to March 15. Keeping the center open year-round, she said, requires philanthropy.

“Without the 2,500 people coming in to get their teeth whitened, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do,” Long said.