North Dakota
Local Hero: Dr.  S.

Based in Ellendale, N.D., (population 1,600), Dr. S. serves patients from an extended rural neighborhood.  Now that she's in her nineteenth year of practice, she says, “I’m finally not the new dentist in town anymore.” Dr. S. became familiar with DDS as a member of the board of trustees for the North Dakota Dental Association. Her first DDS client was a developmentally disabled young woman who made the 2 1/2-hour trip from Fargo and stayed in a motel to receive her free dental care. “I call her my little miracle patient,” says Dr. S. “She used to put her hand up to hide her mouth and wouldn't smile because of unsightly gaps and mal-positioned teeth. She has a new job washing dishes at a college. She's smiling her beautiful smile all the time now. She just beams!” Dr. S. credits DDS for helping coordinate her work with the Fargo team of orthodontist Dr. C., oral surgeon Dr. M., and New West Dental Lab in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.  Thanks to DDS, she says, “You can do great dentistry without compromising. The lab, the specialists, everybody pitches in so that people can have what they need. Any time you see somebody who's not in the mainstream of society and you can help them, it's a great experience.”