Upward Smiles-Festus

Upward Smiles-Festus is a distinguished non-profit dental clinic located at 660 N Creek Dr, Festus, MO 63028, with a phone number of (573) 327-8010 and a website at http://www.upwardsmiles.com/. Founded in 2012 by Sherry L. Cauley, RDH, the organization was established to address the critical dental needs of underserved children in St. Francois County, particularly those on Medicaid, who previously had limited access to care. In 2014, Upward Smiles expanded its services to Jefferson County, establishing the Festus office conveniently off Interstate-55. The clinic's primary mission is to provide comprehensive dental care at no cost to children (up to 20 years old) and pregnant women of any age who have Missouri Medicaid. Unlike many other dental practices, Upward Smiles does not charge patients for services, even for procedures where Medicaid reimbursement is partial or denied. This commitment is supported by the dedication of their team and the assistance of various partners. Upward Smiles offers a wide range of dental services, including comprehensive dental exams, digital radiographs and photos, cleanings, tooth-colored composite fillings, extractions (primary and permanent), space maintainers, preventive sealants, pulpotomies, stainless steel crowns (including white-front crowns for front primary teeth), nitrous oxide (laughing gas), permanent tooth root canals, permanent tooth crowns, partial dentures, and occlusal guards (night guards). A significant feature of Upward Smiles-Festus is their "Sedation Station," created and operational since 2018. Located above the Festus clinic, the Sedation Station provides deep sedation dentistry under general anesthesia. This specialized service is crucial for young or apprehensive children and those with extensive restorative needs, making it the only Deep Sedation Dental Center in the region. They also run free mobile restorative dentistry school-based programs, participate in back-to-school fairs, and provide educational presentations to further serve the community. Upward Smiles has positively impacted nearly 25,000 children and is continuously accepting new patients. They are recognized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, ensuring their focus remains on patient needs rather than profit. Their dedication to providing high-quality, medically necessary dental care without financial burden to families makes them a vital resource in the Festus area and beyond.