Tooth Fairy Fund Repairs Smiles and Lives

By Summer Stevens

A broken smile does more than just cause one to cover their face when smiling. Missing teeth can affect confidence, employment opportunities, and physical appearance.

Those at the Community Care Clinic of Dare understand this, and that is why they applied for a Community Enrichment Grant from the Outer Banks Community Foundation (OBCF) for funds to help those in our community with this most pressing need.

For many people who live or work in Dare County, even when reduced-cost dental care is available, the price of extensive dental treatment may remain out of reach. A new partnership between the Community Care Clinic of Dare, Interfaith Community Outreach, and the Outer Banks Community Foundation is helping bridge that gap through the Tooth Fairy Fund.

The Community Care Clinic of Dare provides, among other services, preventative and restorative dental care with the goal of becoming a dental home for patients rather than simply a place to seek emergency treatment. Services include cleanings, fillings, root canals, crowns, partials, dentures and periodontal care. But for patients who have gone years without dental care, the need can be extensive.

“Most of the people coming into our dental clinic have not had dental care in many years,” said Lyn Jenkins, Executive Director of the Community Care Clinic of Dare. “Some have never had dental care.”

The clinic already offers a sliding fee scale, with many patients qualifying for a 50% discount on dental services. Yet major procedures, such as a full-mouth rehabilitation, can still cost thousands of dollars even after the discount.

That is where the Tooth Fairy Fund comes in.

The fund, administered through the Community Care Clinic of Dare in partnership with Interfaith Community Outreach, provides financial assistance for medically necessary dental treatment for qualifying uninsured adults.

In March of this year, OBCF awarded a $10,000 Community Enrichment Grant to the Community Care Clinic of Dare to support the Tooth Fairy Fund.

“The Tooth Fairy Fund is a great example of the innovative work and leadership happening at the Community Care Clinic of Dare, where a dedicated and talented team is finding creative ways to meet the needs of our neighbors,” said OBCF President and CEO Chris Sawin. “We’re proud to support their work and the meaningful impact they’re making in the lives of people across Dare County.”

The funds were fully used by June, helping six patients with significant dental needs, according to Jenkins.

“These patients are really vetted by two organizations,” said Jenkins. “We want to make sure we’re being very good stewards of the funding and that it’s going to people who really need it.”

The patients who received assistance faced extensive dental problems, including needs for full-mouth rehabilitation. Even with the clinic’s sliding fee discount, some treatments would have left patients responsible for $7,000 or $8,000. The Tooth Fairy Fund provided roughly $1,600 to $1,800 per patient to help offset those costs.

For some patients, the treatment is about much more than having a healthier smile.

Dental problems can make it difficult to eat nutritious foods, and missing, broken or loose teeth can affect a person’s confidence and ability to pursue employment. Jenkins said she has seen the difference extensive dental treatment can make in patients’ lives.

“The smiles we see after reconstruction are amazing,” she said.

The clinic’s dental services are also closely connected to its medical care. Jenkins emphasized that oral health is an important part of overall health, particularly for patients managing conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure. The clinic’s medical, dental, and pharmaceutical departments work together to provide patient-centered care.

“If the blood pressure is too high to do procedures, they get a warm handoff to the medical side, so they can finish their dental treatment,” Jenkins said. “It really is connected.”

That integrated approach is part of the clinic’s larger mission of removing barriers to health care throughout the Outer Banks. In addition to medical and dental care, the Community Care Clinic of Dare provides pharmaceutical assistance, eye care, mental health services, referrals, transportation assistance and help addressing other factors that can affect a person’s health.

Jenkins said the clinic’s goal is to look at the whole person rather than treating only the immediate problem.

“It just is so wonderful for people to have a community care clinic who really cares about them—not just one thing about them,” she said. “Everything, not just what they’re coming in for.”

The Tooth Fairy Fund itself is not currently a recurring grant, but the clinic plans to explore additional opportunities to continue providing this type of assistance. Jenkins said donations specifically designated for the fund can help make future dental treatment possible for people who otherwise could not afford it.

The Community Care Clinic of Dare encourages eligible residents and workers to establish care before a health problem becomes an emergency. The clinic serves people who live or work in Dare County and has capacity to accept new patients in its various areas of care.

“By lifting up everyone in the community, it’s a better community for all,” Jenkins said.

The Outer Banks Community Foundation’s next grant application deadline is Friday, October 30 for Impact Grants, which are open to all types of projects with no restrictions on scope or focus, with funding requests exceeding $10,000. Nonprofits are encouraged to visit the Community Foundation’s website for detailed guidelines, eligibility criteria, and the application portal. Early submissions are encouraged to allow time for review and feedback.

For more information or assistance with the grant application process, visit OBCF.org/grants or contact the staff at 252-423-3003.

About the Outer Banks Community Foundation: The Outer Banks Community Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to fostering philanthropy and supporting local causes. Through its charitable funds and grant programs, the Foundation strives to enrich the quality of life for residents of the Outer Banks.