UNSPOKEN SMILES

05/28/2026

From student leadership at to serving children in the remote San Blas Islands of Panama

Dr. .vmejias ’s journey is a powerful example of what happens when passion meets purpose. Beginning as an Unspoken Smiles Fellow while still a student and former President of Student Government at ULACIT, Viviana has already created meaningful impact in San José, Costa Rica through leadership, service, and advocacy.

Now, as a licensed dentist and member of the Unspoken Smiles Global Outreach Division, she completed her first international humanitarian outreach mission to the San Blas Islands — one of the world’s most isolated regions, reachable only by boat.

Her connection with children, compassion for underserved communities, and commitment to humanitarian dentistry have made this experience truly transformative.

The future of global healthcare leadership is already here — and it looks like Dr. Viviana Mejia.

05/28/2026

The UNSPOKEN SMILES Fellowship program was created to develop the next generation of humanitarian oral healthcare leaders — students and young professionals committed not only to clinical excellence, but to service, prevention, education, and global outreach. Fellows are immersed in real-world humanitarian experiences designed to expose future healthcare leaders to the realities of underserved communities across Latin America and beyond.

For Dr Viviana Mejías, that experience became transformational.

From student leadership in Costa Rica to humanitarian outreach in one of the world’s most remote island regions, Dr. Viviana Mejías embodies the future of service-centered oral healthcare.

The former ULACIT student government president is bringing compassionate dental care to some of the world’s most isolated communities

05/06/2026

The Sisters Closing the Gap

As UNSPOKEN SMILES launches its Panama pilot with FLO International, two sisters in San Blas are showing why dentistry and medicine must work together.

https://community.thriveglobal.com/the-sisters-closing-the-gap/

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

04/29/2026

Earlier this week, Unspoken Smiles Fellows visited Escuela Jardín de Niños Jorge de Bravo in Hatillo 8 as part of our San José Central outreach initiative.

There, we provided oral health education and dental screenings to more than 110 children.

What we found is urgent:

• 13.6% of children screened already had untreated cavities
• 1.8% were living with active dental infections requiring emergency care immediately

These are not just numbers. These are children in pain—many of them too young to explain what they are feeling.

So far, we have screened 10 of 23 schools across San José Central
That means we are already 43.5% of the way there—with 13 schools left to reach.

To date:

• 1,000+ children screened
• 22.2% of our 4,500-child target reached
• More than half of children screened are still waiting for treatment

This is why the Zero Cavity Initiative matters.

We are not just screening children.
We are identifying pain early, preventing lifelong disease, and building the first generation of cavity-free children in Costa Rica.

One school at a time. One child at a time. One smile at a time.

04/21/2026

04/13/2026

What happens when government leadership, diplomacy, and public health align? Real results.

At the Embassy of El Salvador in Costa Rica , UNSPOKEN SMILES delivered a high-impact day of preventive care for children of the Salvadoran diaspora—bringing to life a global priority: No Health Without Oral Health.

Thank you President , First Lady Gabriela Bukele, and your government for leading with vision and prioritizing early childhood and the comprehensive development of children. This commitment is creating real impact—beyond borders.

Deep gratitude to H.E. Ambassador Mrs. Diana Vanegas and her exceptional Embassy team for transforming that vision into action at the Embassy of El Salvador in Costa Rica.

The outcome is powerful: only 3 children presented with cavities. Immediate treatment is underway—but the bigger story is prevention. This reflects a strong culture of care within the Salvadoran community, rooted at home and carried across borders.

Every child also received a full year’s supply of oral hygiene products, thanks to the American Dental Association and Henry Schein —ensuring prevention continues far beyond this day.

This is more than a one-day initiative—this is a scalable model for health diplomacy, prevention, and lasting impact. And it’s only the beginning.

04/13/2026

What happens when government leadership, diplomacy, and public health align? Real results.

At the Embajadas y Consulados de El Salvador en Centroamérica in Costa Rica, UNSPOKEN SMILES delivered a high-impact day of preventive care for children of the Salvadoran diaspora—bringing to life a global priority: No Health Without Oral Health.

The outcome is powerful: only 3 children presented with cavities. Immediate treatment is underway—but the bigger story is prevention. This reflects a strong national commitment to early childhood and a culture of care that starts at home and extends across borders.

Thank you President Nayib Bukele , First Lady Gabriela de Bukele , and your government for leading with vision and prioritizing the comprehensive development of children.

Deep gratitude to H.E. Ambassador Mrs. Diana Vanegas and her exceptional Embassy team for transforming that vision into action on the ground.

This is more than a one-day initiative—this is a scalable model for health diplomacy, prevention, and impact. And it’s only the beginning.

04/03/2026

Last week, we proudly kicked off our first 2026 Zero Cavity School Project at Escuela Omar Dengo in San José Central

Serving a total of 140 students, our screening revealed that 21% of children were affected by cavities, with 5% requiring urgent care NOW. These numbers reinforce the importance of prevention, early detection, and access to care.

We also recognize that some children were absent during our visit, and we are committed to returning to ensure no child is left behind.

With only 16 schools left to reach across the entire province of San Jose, we are more motivated than ever to continue this mission — bringing us closer to a future where every child can grow up cavity-free.

Impact to date in San José:
• Total children reached: 860
• Estimated children in need of follow-up care: more than 50%
• San José Centro: 787 children reached across 6 schools (100% completed)
• Barrios del Sur: 956 children across 6 schools, with 1 school reached so far (73 children served)
• 20 active fellows in partnership with ULACIT supporting implementation

Special thanks to all Presidential Scholars who sponsored this school event, and to our incredible Unspoken Smiles Fellows who showed up with dedication and heart!

We are also grateful for the support of our in-kind partners: , , and the for helping make this impact possible.

Our clinic is ready.
The children are waiting.
You can make a difference.

04/02/2026

Unspoken Smiles is mobilizing the full strength of its Fellowship to the San Blas Islands for a focused oral health mission in Panama.

Home to the Guna (Kuna) indigenous communities, the San Blas Islands are a remote archipelago where access to basic healthcare—including oral health services—remains extremely limited. Through this mission, we aim to support and uplift these vibrant communities with dignity, prevention, and care.

In partnership with , we will provide essential oral care, education, and preventive services to 60 schoolchildren across 4 different islands—ensuring each child receives the attention and tools needed for a healthier future.

Every smile matters. Every child deserves access to quality care.

Join us in supporting this mission and help us expand our reach.

03/23/2026

Three days after World Oral Health Day, Director‑General Dr Adhanom Ghebreyesus message still resonates: our mouths are essential to everyday life—yet oral diseases affect billions of people, deepening inequalities and causing suffering, stigma and, in some cases, death.

Unspoken Smiles wants to change these statistics!