By Jane Rowland

Braces San Diego moved around the corner to a new office on Jackson Drive in January. The practice was founded in 1971, and many people at local schools, churches, and even across the border have heard of Braces San Diego because of the way the staff members have used their expertise to give back to the community.

One of Braces San Diego’s goals is to be more involved with kids’ education. Every school has children with braces. Braces San Diego partners with local school health providers to make sure they are equipped to handle orthodontic emergencies with their students by providing special orthodontic emergency supply kits.

Since going on a two-year mission for his church to Chile, Braces San Diego’s Dr. Brian Asbury has been involved with local church services and projects.

When he is not working in the office, Asbury works with community groups such as Thousand Smiles Foundation, a nonprofit group of local healthcare providers who work together to bring free professional medical treatment to underserved communities in Mexico. Thousand Smiles Foundation offers free orthodontics, dentistry and speech therapy. Asbury has been a part of Thousand Smiles Foundation for 10 years and works with dentists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and volunteers.

“I committed several years ago to always be at the clinic to help with follow-up care and to be there as new patients arrive,” Asbury said.

Asbury also shared a challenge that came with the organization’s success.

“As the organization has grown over the years, we are starting to get more volunteers and have had a tremendous increase in the number of patients needing care,” he said. “As a result we have now outgrown our facility. We are currently fundraising to enlarge the clinic and build our own surgical and recovery rooms which will allow us to treat more patients.”

Asbury has witnessed many life-changing improvements that always make him want to go back and help more people.

“I see a dramatic improvement in their ability to breathe, eat, speak, and smile,” he said.

At the grand opening of the new Braces San Diego office, state Sen. Joel Anderson recognized Braces San Diego with a Senate certificate of recognition.

“Brian and his team’s dedication to helping those in need have brought smiles and joy to many children throughout our community and beyond,” Anderson said. “Our entire community is grateful for his giving heart and his incredible service.”

As a child, Asbury was an Eagle Scout and learned from a young age how fulfilling community service can be. He believes that those who are in a position to serve and uplift others have a responsibility to do so, and he continues to fulfill that personal mission every day.

—Jane Rowland, an undergraduate at San Diego State University, writes on behalf of Sen. Joel Anderson’s office, where she works as a legislative intern.