Scalise wins Colgate Power of a Smile Challenge

Francesca Scalise, a member of UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry’s Dental Class of 2026, has been selected as one of the six winners of the Colgate Power of a Smile Challenge, chosen from applicants across North America.

Scalise was honored for her achievement with a certificate as well as a check in the amount of $4,000.

The Colgate “Power of a Smile Challenge” is a case study competition for dental students at accredited dental schools across the U.S. and Canada. The challenge is designed to promote the impact of oral health on overall well-being and to highlight the emotional and social importance of a smile, particularly in patients who have lost confidence due to dental issues.

Scalise presented a compelling case for the challenge highlighting the critical connection between oral and systemic health.

Her patient, a 64-year-old veteran with Type II diabetes and hypertension, initially sought care for halitosis and a potential cavity. Through a comprehensive dental evaluation, Scalise identified periodontal disease, poor oral hygiene, and an incidental carotid artery calcification on a panoramic X-ray, prompting a medical referral that led to a new hypertension diagnosis.

Her treatment plan emphasized non-surgical periodontal therapy, caries control, and extensive patient education. Over time, the patient showed marked improvement in his oral hygiene and reduced his risk for further complications related to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The case underscores the importance of interdisciplinary care and the role dental professionals play in identifying broader health issues.

Scalise’s culturally-sensitive approach also addressed the patient’s socioeconomic and veteran-related barriers to care, ultimately enhancing both his oral and overall health outcomes.

“These assessments and referrals demonstrate an emphasis in how, as dental providers, our approaches to care can significantly impact a patient’s systemic health alongside their oral health,” Scalise stated in her report.

“In addition, our treatments contribute to an improved oral and systemic health condition due to the bidirectional links that exist between conditions such as periodontal disease, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.”