General Dentist’s referrals are the key to the success of Smiles Change Lives. Their clinical knowledge is essential to our application process to determine a child’s qualifications for our program. By referring a child in need of treatment, that child is one step closer to obtaining more self-confident, healthy smiles.
“As a general dentist, I support the mission of Smiles Change Lives. When you see the impact a healthy smile brings to a child – for a lifetime – you want to get on board! I cannot provide direct orthodontic care to my patients, but what I can do is connect families, who are unable to afford the full cost of braces for their children, to this wonderful program. I also teach my students to recognize orthodontic needs so they care better advocate for their patients.”
Dr. Lisa Thurlow has been an outstanding ambassador for the mission of SCL. She not only refers children in need of treatment from her private practice, Johnson County Dental Care, in Overland Park KS, but Dr. Thurlow invites SCL to present an outreach program at the Concorde Career College Dental Hygiene Program Kansas City, MO., where she is the Dental Hygiene Clinical Director. Thanks to her generosity, her dental hygiene students have donated hundreds of volunteer hours, and dozens of children have been qualified for treatment in our program.
We thank Dr. Thurlow for her continued partnership with SCL and her support in bracing kids for a better future!
Read more about Dr. Thurlow, courtesy of Johnson County Dental Care’s website:
For over 20 years, Kansas City native, Dr. Lisa Thurlow, has been delivering outstanding dental care to patients in her local community! A native of Kansas City, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kansas, where she majored in Human Development. After graduating from UMKC School of Dentistry in 1994, she completed a general practice residency at the Kansas City Veteran’s Administration Hospital. She was a faculty member at UMKC in the department of Oral Surgery and JCCC Dental Hygiene program. She has been in private practice in Johnson County since 1994.
Organized dentistry is very important to Dr. Lisa, and she is a member of several professional organizations, including:
- American Dental Association
- Kansas Dental Association
- Fifth District Dental Society of Kansas (Past President)
Dr. Lisa is also the Clinical Director for the Dental Hygiene Program at Concorde Career College.
Charitable dental activities provide a much valued personal connection to our community, and some of Dr. Lisa’s contributions include the Kansas Mission of Mercy, Donated Dental Services, Special Olympics, Give Kids-A-Smile, volunteering with TeamSmile, being on the Oral Healthcare Initiative Committee, numerous school health and dental screenings and presentations, donated services and supplies for battered women’s shelters, and she promotes children’s dental health month. Dr. Lisa is also a current provider for indigent care in Kansas.
Due to her years of service to organized dentistry and community involvement, Dr. Lisa was awarded the honor of Dentist of the Year by the Fifth District Dental Society of Kansas in 2008. In 2014, Dr. Lisa was the recipient of a Golden Apple Award as well as the Excellence In Education Award for her dedication to the students in the Dental Hygiene Program at Concorde Career College.
Dr. Lisa proudly supports her alma mater, the University of Kansas, and very much enjoys watching KU basketball and football games with friends and family. She has a son and two step-daughters, and it brings her great joy to be involved in their sports and activities.