Dr. Jennifer Buchanan of Buchanan Orthodontics in McKinney has spent the past 27 years
giving her patients confidence by improving their smiles and actively supporting her community. She founded Smiles Charity in 2008, which supports disabled veterans by providing
mortgage-free homes each year. In this Q&A, Dr. Buchanan talks about her passion for orthodontics, what motivated her to start Smiles Charity, how it has changed over the years and how people can participate.

When did you know you wanted to be an orthodontist?

Dr. Buchanan: When I was 10 years old, a friend was pushing me on a wagon and I fell face first
into the pavement. I had an overbite (early orthodontic treatment was not common at the time) so I chipped my front tooth. In my practice one reason we start early orthodontic intervention is to prevent teeth being chipped so easily. After I had orthodontic treatment, it increased my confidence and I knew I wanted to be an orthodontist. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do and I’ve never regretted it.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Dr. Buchanan: It is rewarding to create beautiful smiles that give confidence to patients to last a lifetime. It has been amazing to help patients improve their breathing and health as well.

The first thing people notice about you is your smile and I love getting to play a small part in that.

Where did the idea to start Smiles Charity come from?

Dr. Buchanan: One of my patients was killed in Afghanistan a week before his 21st birthday. It
 broke my heart. It made me realize we need to do more for our veterans who sacrifice everything
 so we can have a normal life. We host our Smiles Charity Concert fundraiser during Memorial Day Weekend in honor of veterans.


How has Smiles Charity changed over the past 15 years?

Dr. Buchanan: After 2020, we changed the format of our fundraiser event. Instead of a big concert behind my office, we host an intimate concert with a silent and live 
auction for our sponsors. Previously we would build homes from ground up, but now we are paying off mortgages. Since we are raising more using this format, we’re able to help more veterans own their homes mortgage-free. Over the last 15 years Smiles Charity has awarded 20 homes.

How can the community get involved?

Dr. Buchanan: A portion of all fees we generate here in the office go to Smiles Charity. We encourage our patients to get involved with all of our volunteer opportunities. Because they are a part of our practice, our patients are an extension of our community service projects.

Why is community involvement so important to you?


Dr. Buchanan: There’s so much of a need in the world and you see it every day. It can get
overwhelming thinking ‘What can I do?’ But, if we can just do one small thing at a time, it can
make a difference.

If you’re helping others, it makes you more grateful for the things you have and you don’t have
time to worry about more trivial things in your life. It puts everything in perspective.
 To me that’s the greatest joy in life—to be able to help others and build others up. I’m blessed to
be in a profession where I can do that.

Buchanan Orthodontics is located at 6595 Virginia Parkway, Ste. 100, McKinney. To learn more
or to schedule a free consultation with Buchanan Orthodontics, text 972-542-4412 or visit mckinneybraces.com.

The above story was produced by Mary Katherine Shapiro, a member of Community Impact's
Storytelling team, with information solely provided by the local business as part of their
"sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team. Our integrity promise to our
readers is to clearly identify all CI Storytelling posts so they are separate from the content
decided upon, researched and written by our journalism department.