Avondale Dental Provides Nearly $10K Free Care During Give Kids a Smile

Avondale Dental’s Give Kids a Smile Day in Hayden Lake delivered a substantial boost to families facing tough budget choices, organizers said. With 17 children registered, the clinic had already provided nearly $6,000 in donated care by 10 a.m., and organizers expected the total value of cleanings, X-rays and basic treatments to reach about $10,000 by the end of the day.

The event offered routine cleanings, X-rays and other basic dental services aimed at getting children on track with preventive care. Photographs from the clinic show Kaidance McWeir giving a thumbs up while receiving treatment and Dr. Kory Wilson, DDS, performing a checkup on Sofia Jacobs. Staff and volunteers worked through the morning to treat families who otherwise might delay or forgo dental care.

A woman at the event captured the emotional payoff of those interventions when she said, "All he wanted was to fix his teeth." She added, "He goes, 'Look', and he had this massive smile on his face like we had changed his life." For parents balancing tight household budgets, the relief is practical and immediate. Cammy Turner said, "Parents sometimes have to ask themselves, 'Am I going to buy my kids food or dental care?'"

Dental assistant Teresa Budvarson said the clinic focuses on more than single visits. "The hope is to get them on track with at-home care and to come back for follow-ups," Budvarson said, adding that "about half of the kids they see on Give Kids a Smile Day return for follow-up care." The event also drew long-time participants. Sarah Jacobs, a mother of five who has brought her children for a decade, said, "Our family has been on such a tight budget for so long; there’s just no way to get them all in otherwise. It’s been a huge blessing."

The program highlights persistent gaps in access to pediatric oral health services in Kootenai County. When families postpone routine dental care, children face higher risk for pain, infection and missed school. Mobile clinics, pro bono events and one-day drives help meet immediate need, but staff members and parents at the Hayden Lake event underscored that episodic care does not replace consistent access to an affordable dental home.

For local policymakers and community leaders, the event is a reminder that safety-net strategies and sustained investment in preventive services matter. Organizers urged families to pursue follow-up appointments and at-home routines established during the clinic, and they framed Give Kids a Smile Day as one part of a broader effort to reduce barriers to care.

Avondale Dental’s Give Kids a Smile Day returned dozens of kids to a baseline of oral health and left several families with fewer immediate expenses. The clinic and partners expect the total donated value to approach $10,000, and staff said continuing care and community supports will determine whether that initial boost leads to sustained improvement for children across the county.