News 12 at 6 o'clock--June 20, 2009

COLUMBIA COUNTY---Smiling is something many of us take for granted. It's easy and comes out naturally most of the time. But for some people, smiling is awkward and embarrassing, because they weren't blessed with good teeth. One orthodontist and one organization is trying to fix that problem one smile at a time.

Five lucky young ladies got the gift that will last a lifetime today, a chance to smile without care. All thanks to a group called smiles for a lifetime and Dr. David Carter.

On this day, five young ladies are in a miracle room. They're getting something they only thought they'd get if a miracle happened. Go ahead and pinch yourself girls, it happened.

Meet Hannah Craft and her mother Haley. They're a bundle of emotions right now.

"Excited, nervous." Hannah said.

"More excited than I can say." Haley said.

When it comes to her dental history, Hannah hasn't had it easy.

"She was born with a cleft lip." her mom said.

Hannah's teeth just never came in anywhere close to right. The need for braces was obvious, but the money to get them was never there.

"It's heart-wrenching to know you can't provide for your child like you want to." her mom told us.

And, on top of that, Hannah's dental issues made her an easy target to be picked on.

It was never going to happen until an unbelievable opportunity came up. Hannah and five other kids who all need braces, but couldn't afford them were selected by a group called Smiles for a Lifetime to get a scholarship that covers the entire cost of braces and follow-up visits.

The change will be monumental for them.

"It's gonna be straight. I'll smile a lot. Ain't gonna get picked on. I'm gonna be more happy." Hannah said.

"Just to know I won't have to worry about that with her. Being able to go to school. Not worry about going to school and kids picking on her." Mom Haley said as she got a little choked up.

The man behind all of this is Dr. David Carter. He says this changes more than you can even imagine.

"Parents tell me "what have you done?". This child was never like this before. They've come out of their shell." he said.

After about an hour's worth of work, the braces are on. And the joy is impossible to measure.

In just a few hours, five lives have been altered, all for the better. Five girls that will remember this day as the start of the next chapter in their lives.

"It's more than a blessing. It's a miracle." Haley Craft said.

One other young man was also selected, but will be coming in at a later date for his braces.

Smiles for a Lifetime is a not-for-profit dedicated to providing orthodontic help to under-privileged children who need it most.

Click here for more information: http://www.carterorthodontics.com/smileforlifetime.asp