Dr. Nicolas Porter, a dentist from Phoenix, AZ known as Dr. Nicolas, launched the Smile Equality Tour on May 23, 2015. His goal is to bring a smile to the face of anyone he meets along the way. The first stop on his tour was the South American country of Peru, and he feels he has been able to make a truly meaningful difference there.
"My greatest belief is that everybody, regardless of economic background, deserves to smile", says Dr. Nicolas Porter. "I'm not just talking about dentistry, I mean real joy."
Dr. Nicolas is truly passionate about his profession. He is also the host of the Dr. Nicolas Show, which runs on the radio in Phoenix, AZ and Denver, CO. During his career, he founded Risas Dental and Braces, which currently has six offices in Phoenix, as well as three offices in Denver and growing. Together with Risas Dental and Braces, Dr. Nicolas focuses on delivering dentistry to the underserved Latino population in the areas they operate in.
The first stop of his Smile Equality Tour was Peru. He chose this destination because some 31% of the population in this country lives in poverty. Additionally, there are just 1.2 dentists for every 10,000 people. This is a significant disparity and leaves the people of Peru with very few reasons to smile, something that Dr. Nicolas aimed to change. Dr. Nicolas lived in Peru himself from 1997 to 1999 and his experiences there shaped who he is today and gave him his "Corazon Latino".
The idea behind his Smile Equality Tour, which has been using the hashtag #SmileEquality, aims to affect millions of people. His belief is that everyone is able to make a difference and touch others through genuine acts of kindness. If someone touches just one other person, the ripple effect will ensure that this is carried through to many others, since smiles are contagious. As such, Dr. Nicolas aims to "pay it forward" one smile at a time and he is encouraging others to do the same.
"I had the chance to share smiles in the Plaza de Armas in Urubamba located in the sacred valley of the Inca", adds Dr. Nicolas. "The #SmileEquality tour has added a new level of meaning to my life as I get to share my talents and resources with these humble people. Everyone can participate on my FB page by posting photos of the smiles you encounter throughout your day!"
While engaging on his Smile Equality Tour, he also continues to champion the quality work performed at Risas Dental and Braces. They are committed to their community and want to make dentistry, and having a beautiful smile, achievable and accessible for everyone. As such, they offer affordable financing options for braces without credit checks that cost patients as little as $100 a month. They have also given away over $1 million of free dental services through their "Labor of Love" charity events on Labor Day as a way to say thank you to the community.
Dr. Nicolas is a dentist and radio personality who resides in Phoenix, Arizona. He is the founder of Risas Dental and Braces, a fast growing dental group with offices in multiple states.
1601 N 7th St
Phoenix, AZ 85006
