The Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic is bringing free dental care for children in the community on Wednesday, February 25, during its sixth annual Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) event.
The event provides children, ages 12 and under, with free dental work, including exams, cleanings, along with oral health education and dietary recommendations. Any treatment that is diagnosed during the exams will be completed at follow-up visits throughout 2026. The event will be staffed by SYTHC dentists, registered dental assistants and dental hygienists. During last year’s event, over $7,300 of dental services were provided to 28 children at no cost to their families.
Native communities can face significant barriers to access to oral health care. According to a 2015 study published by the Pew Research Center, half of all Native children live in areas with a dental care shortage. This results in pre-school-aged Native children having 4 times more cases of untreated tooth decay than white children…