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AACD Announces Smile Makeover Finalists
[September 23, 2014]

AACD Announces Smile Makeover Finalists


MADISON, Wis. --(Business Wire)--

Thanks to the "Smile Story Contest," Pennsylvania mother of four Megan LaRue can finally reflect the joy that her husband and children bring her by smiling. LaRue is one of five finalists in the contest presented by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). As a finalist, she will receive a smile makeover from an AACD member dentist.

LaRue suffers from a rare progressive autoimmune disease that has compromised her oral health, and has prevented her from having the beautiful smile she's always dreamed of. "Since my diagnosis, I've shied away from the camera," she said. "Now, I'm not just getting a new smile - I'm also getting part of my life back. I can't wait to start capturing memories with my family again."

More than 400 people entered the contest on AACD's consumer web portal Your Smile Becomes You, sharing emotional stories about what a smile makeover would mean to them. Users were then able to vote for their favorite stories, and the top 20 finalists were identified based on popular vote.

The contest generated more than 9,000 online votes.

AACD member dentists helped to narrow the competitive pool of entrants even further through in-person smile evaluations. As a result, AACD is proud to announce the five grand-prize winners and their treatment dentists:

  • Amanda Kessler of Litchfield, IL, will receive treatent by Dr. Tanya DeSanto based in Springfield, IL.
  • Jennifer Streeter of Bay City, MI, will receive treatment by Dr. Ryan Michelson based in Saginaw, MI.
  • Kenneth Hoegler of Cleveland, OH, will receive treatment by Dr. Paul Mikhli based in Beachwood, OH.
  • Megan LaRue of Ambler, PA, will receive treatment by Dr. Michael Weiss based in Jenkintown, PA.
  • Renata Glick of Aylmer, Ontario, Canada will receive treatment by Dr. Arun Narang based in Mississauga, ON (News - Alert), Canada.



"AACD is pleased to provide these five deserving individuals with a new smile," said Dr. Joyce Bassett, AACD President Elect. "We know that a beautiful smile has the power to change someone's life, and we couldn't be happier for these individuals who now have an opportunity to grow personally and professionally with newfound confidence."

The five AACD member dentists who will perform the smile makeovers are donating their expertise and resources to deliver the smile makeovers to these recipients. "There is a standard of excellence among AACD members, coupled with a desire to give back to the community," said Dr. James Hastings, AACD President. "The AACD Board of Directors greatly appreciates each dentist and laboratory technician donating time and skills to give contest finalists a new smile."


The five finalists will reveal their brand new smiles at AACD's annual conference in San Francisco in May 2015.

This is the first consumer contest sponsored by the AACD. The contest is supported by Ivoclar Vivadent's IPS e.max, Ivoclar's all-ceramic system for crowns, inlays, onlays, thin veneers, abutments and bridges. The product has been used in more than 75 million restorations in 6,000 North American labs.

For more information on cosmetic dentistry procedures or to find an AACD dental professional near you, visit www.yoursmilebecomesyou.com.

About the AACD

The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) is the world's largest non-profit member organization dedicated to advancing excellence in comprehensive oral care that combines art and science to optimally improve dental health, esthetics, and function. Comprised of more than 6,600 cosmetic dental professionals in 80 countries worldwide, the AACD fulfills its mission by offering superior educational opportunities, promoting and supporting a respected credential, serving as a user-friendly and inviting forum for the creative exchange of knowledge and ideas, and providing accurate and useful information to the public and the profession. To learn more, visit www.yoursmilebecomesyou.com.


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