Smile Again

Meet Cande L., Our Smile Again Recipient!

Dr. Heiner and the Oral & Facial Surgery of New Mexico team are thrilled to announce that Cande L., 60, of Las Cruces, was selected from nearly 200 local applicants to be the recipient for our new Smile Again program. Cande is the first female certified officer in New Mexico and has worked in law enforcement for 13 years. As our chosen recipient, she will be receiving a much deserved complimentary full-arch restoration procedure! This is the first year that our practice has offered this transformative opportunity to a member of the community.

Growing up, Cande’s family could not afford dental insurance, and she rarely saw a dentist, which led to a cascade of oral health issues that has left her with 14 missing teeth and painful decay. Her broken smile has taken a toll on her self-esteem and confidence, but Cande is taking steps to improve her life. She recently escaped an unhealthy and abusive marriage. When asked how a new smile would change her life, Cande responded, “I would love to start a new chapter and feel good about myself. I don’t have any photos with my children or grandchildren, and I would love to smile with them in confidence.” The Smile Again program will give Cande the new smile and boosted confidence she deserves so that she can continue on the path of positive change for herself and her family. All of us at Oral & Facial Surgery of New Mexico are honored to have the opportunity to help Cande with her transformation!

Dr. Heiner is partnering with restorative dentist Dr. Kendal Trujillo out of Ruidoso to complete Cande’s personalized treatment. After the procedure, Cande will have a full set of permanent, natural-looking teeth secured by precision-placed dental implants.

About the Smile Again Program
Our Smile Again program is designed to help a member of the local community regain their smile, oral function, and oral health for the boost in confidence they need to turn their life around in a positive way. Members of the local community who suffer from severe oral health issues and can’t afford to correct them were invited to apply for the Smile Again program, after which we performed thorough oral examinations to determine our finalist. Cande will attend a series of appointments at our practice to receive her new smile.

You can hear more about the program and Cande’s journey by reviewing the press coverage or exploring our Facebook page. Thank you for your interest in the Smile Again program!