Dentists offer free care to kids whose families can't afford it

COEUR d'ALENE - Tiffany Shear was shivering as the dental chair motored her back up.

"I think my nerves are getting the best of me," the 15-year-old said, unable to sip the juice offered for her post-surgery jitters.

But even with the mouth full of fillings she received at Dr. Delwyn Dick's office in Coeur d'Alene, Shear was still smiling.

After all, she had been waiting awhile.

"I was looking forward to it. I just didn't like the way my teeth looked," Shear said of her tooth decay, visible in the X-rays posted behind her. "I like to take pictures a lot with my friends, and I was afraid to smile a lot. Now I'm not going to be scared to talk to people and have them judge me."

Confident smiles were the whole point of the annual Give Kids a Smile Day on Friday, when dentists nationwide gave free dental care to kids whose families can't afford it.

Several dental offices in Kootenai County, and one from Spokane, provided 190 dental care vouchers to local school districts, which distributed them to students with the greatest need.

Some practices will treat voucher patients in upcoming weeks, but many doctors and staff volunteered their days off this Friday to provide care.

"We saw one kid who had never been to the dentist. He had four cavities, and he was 9," said dental hygienist Barbara Baird, adding it would likely take four hours to treat the kids scheduled that day. "We're glad to do this. We all love it."

The basic cleaning alone that each child will receive through the program over the next few weeks will amount to about $50,000 in donated care, according to staff for Dr. Cheri Bloom, who coordinated the event in North Idaho.

"I have no doubt that number will be even higher," said Sue, an administrative assistant who declined to give her last name. "We've got almost 200 kids here, and of course we all know how expensive dentistry is."

At Dirne Dental Center, kids were crowding the waiting room Friday as they watched "Finding Nemo" flicker on the TV screen.

The office was working with 50 kids that day, said dentist Sarah Ambrose.

"We have a lot of bodies in here," she said with wide eyes. "We're just doing visual exams, trying to set something up later if they need it. Of course if somebody is in pain today, we'll try to take care of it."

It's essential for small children to visit the dentist early on, Ambrose said.

"One really important thing is to get kids in the chair and do things that don't hurt and don't scare, so they can get used to the dentist," she said.

Down the hall, dental assistant Meredith Spears was cooing praises to 6-year-old Josiah Mann as he swished water in his mouth.

"You are the best helper ever," she declared.

His father, Isaac, was grateful for the vouchers, which allowed him to schedule several of his homeschool students for care, he said.

"I like the fact she (the assistant) made it fun," he said, adding that his wife was once a dental assistant and insists on clean nibblers. "I'm glad to get access to good dental care."

In another room, Dr. John Coburn congratulated Ethan Garner, 7, as the boy practiced brushing his teeth.

"I don't need to tell you anything. You're doing awesome," Coburn said.

Education on dental maintenance was a big goal of the day, he said.

"I see patients in their 20s and 30s with really bad teeth, who were never taught how to brush their teeth correctly," Coburn said. "It's a simple two-minute thing that can save people thousands in dental care."

Families were grateful for the free service, said Susan Thomas-Conti, district nurse for Post Falls schools who set up appointments for kids in her district.

"Dental is the hardest care for kids to access if their parents don't have insurance or funds," she said. "Especially with these difficult economic times. Parents are losing their jobs and their health insurance."

This year they were especially lucky, she added, because Spokane Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery provided wisdom teeth extractions, which can cost up to $2,000.

"At Lakeland High School we had a young man with swelling because his wisdom teeth were coming in and he said, 'Oh my gosh, my family doesn't have insurance,'" Thomas-Conti said. "Then we got a call about those vouchers. It was like a miracle."

For some, Friday just called for the basics.

Ian Thomas, 11, sighed as Dr. Jack Fullwiler finished giving the boy a filling and sealant at Gates Dentistry.

"I hate drills," Ian said, and pointed to the equipment stand.

But as he sat up and rubbed his cheek, he had no more complaints.

"It was cool," he decided. "I got to get my whole cheek numb. I think the dentist's office is fun."