The Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic (SYTHC) will hold its sixth annual Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) event on February 25, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the clinic located at 90 Via Juana Lane on the Santa Ynez Reservation. The event provides free dental care to children ages 12 and under, regardless of income or insurance status.
Children participating will receive comprehensive oral examination including X-rays when appropriate, teeth cleaning, oral health education, and dietary recommendations. The clinic’s Dental Department, staffed by SYTHC dentists, registered dental assistants, and dental hygienists, will conduct the exams. Any treatment diagnosed during the exams will be completed at follow-up visits throughout 2026.
Impact and Support
During last year’s event, more than $7,300 of dental services were provided to 28 children at no cost to their families. Dr. Mike Savidan, dental director for the Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic, stated: “Our dental clinic looks forward to this event every year as a chance to prioritize pediatric oral health and make a genuine, lasting impact on the well-being of our youngest patients.”
Give Kids A Smile is a national program started in 2003 by the American Dental Association with the goal of providing no-cost care for thousands of children at hundreds of locations nationwide. February is designated as National Children’s Dental Health Month, with the first week of the month seeing dental offices nationwide partner with the ADA to provide free dental treatment to underserved children.
About SYTHC
The Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic accommodates more than 26,000 patient visits per year and has an active patient population of approximately 9,200. The clinic employs 68 team members and specializes in quality health care through modern medicine and cultural traditions. While comprehensive medical, dental, and behavioral health services are available to Chumash community members, the clinic also treats non-native patients of diverse ethnic backgrounds. The facility accepts Medicare, Medi-Cal, and most major insurance plans.
Pre-registration is required to participate, and openings are limited. Interested families should call 805-688-7070 to register.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.noozhawk.com/santa-ynez-tribal-health-clinic-to-offer-free-dental-services-for-children/