Press releases are posted on Independent.com as a free community service.
SANTA YNEZ, CA – March 2, 2026 – The Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic recently served 35 children, ages 12 and under, with $7,567 in complimentary dental services at its sixth annual Give Kids A Smile event on Wednesday, February 25, at the clinic, located at 90 Via Juana Lane on the Santa Ynez Reservation. The free dental work also provided children with exams, cleanings and more.
“Our Give Kids A Smile event was a big success,” said Dr. Mike Savidan, Dental Director for the Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic. “It’s a privilege to see our dental staff inspire the next generation to prioritize their health. Events like this allow us to highlight the importance of pediatric oral health and to make an immediate and meaningful impact on the well‑being of our youngest patients.”
As one of SYTHC’s biggest events of the year, the clinic’s Dental Department provided dental care for any local child regardless of income or insurance status. Children received a comprehensive oral examination (including X-rays when appropriate), teeth cleaning, oral health education and dietary recommendations. Any treatment that was diagnosed during the exams will be completed at follow-up visits throughout 2026. The event was staffed by SYTHC dentists, registered dental assistants and dental hygienists. During last year’s event, over $7,300 in dental services were provided to 28 children at no cost to their families.
Give Kids A Smile is a national program launched in 2003 by the American Dental Association (ADA), with the goal of providing no-cost care for thousands of children at hundreds of locations nationwide. With February being National Children’s Dental Health Month, each year during the first week of the month, dental offices across the country partner with the ADA and celebrate with their own Give Kids A Smile event, providing much-needed free dental treatment to underserved children in their local communities.
Located on the Santa Ynez Reservation at 90 Via Juana Lane in Santa Ynez, SYTHC accommodates more than 26,000 patient visits per year, has an active patient population of over 9,200 and employs 68 team members. The staff specializes in the highest standards of quality health care through modern medicine and cultural traditions. While the clinic’s comprehensive medical, dental and behavioral health services are available to Chumash Community Members, the clinic also treats non-native patients of diverse ethnic backgrounds with unique needs. The facility accepts Medicare, Medi-Cal and most major insurance plans.
The clinic is an unincorporated instrumentality of the tribe and is part of the Indian Health Service (IHS). SYTHC is also a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that receives grant and third-party funding as a mature contractor.
For more information, contact SYTHC at 805-688-7070 or log on to www.sythc.org.
