The Aspen Group (TAG) has announced the launch of Smile Bridge, a groundbreaking program designed to connect patients who have ectodermal dysplasia with the dental care that they need at no cost, according to a June 4, 2025, TAG press release. Created through a partnership between the two dental brands that TAG supports—Aspen Dental and ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers—and the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias (NFED), the program will help to provide individuals impacted by ectodermal dysplasia with a lifetime of healthy, confident smiles.
The idea for Smile Bridge came, in part, from a case undertaken by Aspen Dental practice owner Dr. Whitney Deitz and laboratory technician Julie Bostwick. They created a set of dentures for a young patient with ectodermal dysplasia named Weston, who later earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the youngest person ever to receive dentures. Ectodermal dysplasias are a group of inherited disorders that can cause defects in the hair, nails, sweat glands, and teeth. Although the manifestations of the condition vary, those related to the teeth may include missing or underdeveloped teeth, malformed teeth, delayed tooth eruption, and more.
“I wasn't deeply familiar with ectodermal dysplasias until I met Weston,” says Dr. Deitz. “His mother and I are good friends, as well as neighbors, and our children are the same age. I quickly learned that the incidence of ectodermal dysplasias in the United States is about one in one thousand live births. I promised Weston's mom that he would never go to school without a set of teeth. Watching Weston thrive has been incredible, and as a result, Aspen Dental and ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers are proud to launch this program in partnership with the NFED to help even more children and adults affected by ectodermal dysplasias."
Many individuals with ectodermal dysplasia face complex and costly dental treatment needs throughout their lives as a result of the condition’s diverse nature. To assist this population, Smile Bridge will match ectodermal dysplasia patients aged 2 to 22 years old with Aspen Dental or ClearChoice clinicians near their geographic locations and provide them with comprehensive care free of charge.
“We've been working on this program for some time, and it's incredibly rewarding to see it come to life,” says Dr. Sundeep Rawal, vice president of Implant Support Services at Aspen Dental. “Aspen Dental clinicians will bring patients from early childhood into early adulthood with dentures, ongoing maintenance, and early implant placement. ClearChoice clinicians will deliver full-arch solutions as patients reach adulthood—all at no cost."
“We are thrilled to be a partner in this ground-breaking opportunity to provide vital dental care to members of our community,” says Mary Fete, executive director of the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias. “The cost of these critical services to their well-being is overwhelming. Thanks to Smile Bridge, we are making a monumental difference.”
To learn more about TAG and the NFED’s commitment to expanding access to high-quality dental care for individuals with ectodermal dysplasias, as well as the referral process, please visit https://nfed.org/blog/smile-bridge/.
