Nigerians have been urged to prioritise their oral health, by taking good care of their mouth and teeth as the pathway to wellness.
Amy Shumbusho, CEO, Smile360 Dental Specialists, said oral health has a direct impact on people’s lives, especially in boosting confidence and self esteem.
According to her, more Nigerians are getting to know that their dentition is losely linked to their smile and can be corrected when there are related issues.
“They’re getting to know that oral health can make an impact in their body,” she said during the 2026 Project Smile CSR initiative in Lagos.
She however disclosed that remedial treatment can be conducted to help people smile again, even if they cannot readily afford the treatment.
“Project Smile is a CSR initiative where we transform lives by changing smiles and this is a way of us making an impact in the community through dental treatment,” she said.
She also disclosed that the initiative leveraged social media to reach more people on an annual basis. “Project Smile is now in the minds of a lot of people.
“With the help of more partnerships, we certainly would like to take on more,” she added.
Shumbusho said that Project Smile 360 is a community led CSR initiative carried out in the last 15 years. According to her, over 95 applicants applied online via social media platforms.
According to her, seven finalists were shortlisted for a free and comprehensive dental treatment, which could last up to two or three years. “So, we have seen an increase in the number of people who apply,” Shumbusho said.
Chanel Scott, chief operating officer (COO), said the CSR goes beyond just helping people smile. According to her, the initiative also help people to build their confidence and self esteem.
“Imagine being in pain for days because you’re having issues with your dentition. So, we’re impacting far beyond; much deeper than people realize,” Scott said.
Nidhi Agrawal, Orthodontist, at Smile360 Dental Specialists, said beneficiaries will have their orthodontic treatment.
According to her, some of the beneficiaries may need extraction and other dental checks like for cavities or maybe cleaning.
“The average duration of the treatment can be up to two years, because the cases that we have shortlisted today are very severe,” she said.
Okwuoha, chief human resource officer, said the initiative is beyond just helping people to change their dentition.
He added that the initiative also involves helping people make better choices with respect to how they want to live their lives, especially in relation to oral health.
