Cristian Castro: The Story of a Recovered Smile

In the rural communities of southern Honduras, dental health is not always a priority. Families often face economic and access barriers to healthcare, leading many children to grow up without the proper treatment for their teeth. This was the case for Cristian, a 10-year-old boy with a shy smile, but a story worth telling.

At the age of 6, he had an accident that resulted in the loss of his front tooth. His teeth not only affected his physical health but also his confidence. At school, he avoided smiling in front of his classmates, and his father, worried about the situation, knew he couldn’t afford the necessary treatment.

That was when Fundesur came into his life through the Building Smiles program, a project aimed at providing free dental care to children in communities like Cristian’s. At his first consultation, the dentist noticed that Cristian needed several treatments, from deep cleaning to dental restorations.

Through this program, Cristian not only received the dental care he desperately needed, but he also experienced a profound change in his life. Little by little, his smile began to reappear, and with it, his confidence.

Today, Cristian no longer hides his smile. He plays with his friends, actively participates in school, and has discovered how important it is to take care of his dental health. For him, his smile is no longer a source of shame but of pride.

"Thanks to Fundesur, today I can truly smile," says Cristian with a happy expression that lights up his face.

Stories like Cristian’s are the reason why Fundesur continues working tirelessly to provide dental and medical care to those who need it most. Every recovered smile is a step toward a better future for the children of southern Honduras.

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