Something to smile about

HAYDEN LAKE — With six children comes six times the need for quality dental care.

On Friday, Avondale Dental provided the gift of free dentistry to 25 local youths, including some of Janet Hay's brood.

"I actually have six kids, and they all started coming here when they were little," said Hay, of Dalton Gardens. "It's fantastic. Families aren't always able to come in and get dental work all the time. When you have these free days like this, families can come in, that, like me, having multiple kids. I don't have dental insurance and things like that. It's a tremendous blessing."

Her son, Connor Hay, 15, was seated next to her in the lobby. He got three cavities filled.

"I'm pretty good, but just right here is all numb," he said, patting his face.

"I feel like this is going to help families who can't afford stuff like this," he said. "It helps a lot."

The office at 1683 E. Miles Ave. was abuzz with excitement during the Give Kids a Smile event, which coincided with a football-themed spirit week and "Soup-er Bowl" food drive. Streamers and balloons were festooned throughout the waiting area and an abundance of cheerful volunteers and personnel made sure everyone was well taken care of.

"Everyone is volunteering their time to help out," Avondale Dental marketing and membership coordinator Jen Snow said. "It's really awesome for us because we see people throughout the year who we know need work done. To give them that opportunity to feel confident and get that preventative work done so they're not in pain, they don't have cavities and make them healthier overall is always our goal."

For at least 20 years, Avondale Dental has participated in Give Kids a Smile, a program of the American Dental Association to ensure access to quality oral health care for all children. It falls during the first week of February, which is National Children's Dental Health Month.

The program is geared toward children and teens who demonstrate financial hardship and have dental needs.

Dentist Katie Martin, who has been at Avondale for nine years, said most years they see up to 45 kids.

"It's just a really great feeling to be able to help people in the community because we have a skill that not a lot of people possess or can do," she said. "To be able to give back to the community is a big part of what we try to do in our office. This is one way that we can reach people."