Summary
Organization name
Colorado Orthodontic Foundation
other names
The COF
2008
Tax id (EIN)
26-3293339
Category
Health Care
Organization Size
Small Organization
Address
P.O. Box 8513Denver, CO 80201
Denver County, CO, US
Our Mission is to make orthodontic treatment accessible & affordable to low-income families in Colorado by partnering with local orthodontic professionals. As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, we want to encourage greater awareness among the general public about the benefits of orthodontics.
Testimonials
"A beautiful smile brings confidence to you, and attracts other people to you, and that's what I want--I want it to have a nice career, and for my future and this will help me in that." -COF Patient, Age 15
"As an orthodontist, volunteering time and helping specifically in clinical settings goes a mile in changing not only kids' smiles, but changing kids' lives here in Colorado. The impact can really be enormous."
--Dr. Anil Idiculla, Park Meadows, Metropolitan, & Beaver Creek Orthodontics, COF Provider and Board Member
"The transformation that occurs during the orthodontics is amazing- you can just tell by the end of the treatment, they're so excited! It builds their confidence so much...and to be able to provide a treatment even before these kids go to high school is just huge. It's a gift of a lifetime."
--Dr. Cassy Wiggins, Summit Orthodontics, COF Provider and Board Member
"I thought it would be a great experience to work with patients that we wouldn't otherwise see in our community- thus far we have really enjoyed working with the patients & their families, and we're so glad to be able to participate and contribute to such a cause!"
--Dr. Amy Shearer, Canyon Point Orthodontics, COF Provider
Mission
Our Mission is to make orthodontic treatment accessible and affordable to low-income families in Colorado by partnering with local orthodontic professionals. Our vision is to to foster a greater awareness and understanding among the general public about the benefits of orthodontic treatment by doctors that specialize in orthodontic prevention and care. We hope to provide care to an underserved community in order to help foster better health, beautiful smiles, and confident children that can become leaders in the community.
Background Statement
The Colorado Orthodontic Foundation (COF) is a non-profit organization in partnership with doctors to provide orthodontic treatment and education for families that cannot otherwise afford orthodontic health care. Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. Formed by a group of business leaders and orthodontic professionals, the Colorado Orthodontic Foundation exists to assist underprivileged children and families in benefiting from orthodontic care.
In recent years, Colorado has one of the nation's fastest growing rates of child poverty. As such, more and more families are uninsured or on low-income healthcare such as CHP+ or Medicaid. When the need for orthodontics is identified to a patient, their family is often left with very few options since a typical orthodontic treatment plan in a private clinic can cost upwards of $10,000. The Colorado Orthodontic Foundation has established a treatment program in which qualified families can receive high-quality treatment (identical to that provided in a private clinic) for a fraction of that price. Through the volunteer hours of professional orthodontists and donations from orthodontic supply companies, we are able to provide a service to these families that was previously considered financially impossible.
Through a partnership with Kids in Need of Dentistry ((KIND) a non-profit specializing in general dentistry), as well as partnerships with other local public health groups, we are able to identify certain populations where the need for orthodontics is great, despite low-income levels. If our program through the COF were not available, many of these patients in need of orthodontics would go untreated. Without such treatment, further medical problems can appear and escalate, such as improper jaw alignment, gum and tooth diseases, and even the need for oral surgery. Not only does our orthodontic program provide the necessary adjustment for a healthy mouth, but also better tooth function, a beautiful smile, and even an increase in self-confidence for appearance-conscious patients.
The Colorado Orthodontic Foundation is inspired by the vision of Rocky Mountain Orthodontics' owner Mr. Martin Brusse. His vision was to foster a greater awareness and understanding among the general public about the benefits of orthodontic treatment, and to improve oral health within local communities. Mr. Brusse believed everyone should have access to vital oral and orthodontic care to develop better health, beautiful smiles, and confident children that can become leaders in the community. We hope to continue to fulfill Mr. Brusse's goals for years to come.
Media gallery
Organization Data
Denver, CO 80201