Dr. Stosich Offers Smiles for Service
EVANSTON and KENILWORTH— When a patient came to our office recently with a serious need for orthodontic treatment but lacked insurance or an inability to pay, Dr. Michael Stosich came up with a plan.
Now the patient will get the smile he wants in exchange for providing 30 hours of community service he can be proud of.
Our patient, the handsome 8-year-old boy pictured with his mother and Dr. Stosich, is one of five children. He has a small upper jaw that doesn’t function very well, and he never smiles.
Soon, that will change. Dr. Stosich is going to provide Phase I orthopedic treatment. Also referred to as interceptive orthodontic treatment, this method uses a child’s growth to the orthodontist’s advantage and helps prevent the development of more serious dental problems later in life.
“We’re excited to give him a reason to smile,” says Dr. Stosich, a provider of braces for children, as well as adult orthodontics treatment for patients from Kenilworth Wilmette, Evanston, Skokie and other neighboring communities. “And we’re also glad that in exchange for our generosity, this boy and his mother have committed to being generous with their time by volunteering in the community.”
The patient’s mother is grateful for the opportunity to improve her son’s smile.
“She cried and was very thankful of the arrangement,” says Dr. Stosich, an Evanston Invisalign and SureSmile braces provider. “The boy was extremely happy, too.”
Nini Lustig, executive director of Lake County Cares, is helping the family connect with some volunteer opportunities. She offered several recommendations of where the family could volunteer. This is the first time she’s received such a request in exchange for orthodontic treatment.
“I thought it was creative and meaningful,” Lustig says. “In my world, it’s the perfect solution. (Dr. Stosich) is doing something where people won’t feel like they’re getting a hand-out. There’s dignity in it. Everybody wins.”
