Our Founder
Hi! My name is Stephanie Levine. It’s lovely to connect!
My journey
I was born with a rare bone disease called hypophosphatasia that primarily affected my teeth. Although my condition was considered mild, I lost my baby teeth at two years old, and my adult teeth began falling out at nineteen.
For more than fifteen years, I went from dentist to dentist searching for lasting care. During that time, school and my career took me to Los Angeles, London, New York, Austin, Miami, and Washington, D.C. Each move brought new opportunities, but it also made finding consistent dental care more difficult. Despite treatment, I continued to lose teeth.
More than dental care
As I worked to build my career and create a foundation for my life, my dental health remained a source of uncertainty. It affected what I could eat, how I felt, and the confidence I brought into everyday life. There were periods when I had large gaps in my mouth. They weren’t always visible to others, but I was always aware of them.
Over the years, my care cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. I was fortunate to receive reimbursement through my medical insurance. Without that support, I don’t know how I would have managed. My experience showed me how much a person’s health and stability can depend on their ability to access and afford dental care.
Why I founded Sourire
For the first time in my life, thanks to my amazing dental team, my dental care is finally stable and complete!
I waited for this day for years. I had promised myself that when it came, I would found Sourire to share my story and open a conversation about dental care as an essential part of our health. I want to help others feel less alone and find the support they need to access treatment.
My vision for Sourire is to first help people with medical conditions that affect their teeth navigate insurance roadblocks. Eventually, through fundraising, I hope to provide grants to people who may not otherwise have access to care.
Life is short, and everyone deserves the chance to eat comfortably, smile confidently, build their life, and pursue their dreams without their dental health holding them back.