Renovated Winnipeg inner-city dental clinic provides $30 care — regardless of what’s needed

Posted on November 6, 2024 by Peggy

A newly renovated dental clinic in Winnipeg’s inner city is providing dental care at a low cost to children in eligible families.

The clinic, located at Machray School on Mountain Avenue, recently underwent a $180,000 renovation, which includes upgrades to the private practice rooms and new X-ray machines.

Staff at the dental clinic say the work they do to help children and families through the Saving Mouths in Income Limited Environments (SMILE) Plus program has a big impact on the people they serve.

Pediatric dentist Tara Kennedy, who works at the clinic a few times a month, said families with children up to 18 years old in need of a routine cleaning, dental extraction or filling pay a flat rate of $30 regardless of the work they need done.

“By offering care at a set cost, we’re breaking down some of the barriers that exist to providing routine care,” Kennedy said at the clinic on Wednesday.

“The treatment that I provide here is the exact same treatment that I provide in a private practice setting, we just don’t have to have the discussion of cost.”

A building with signage in the windows showing phone numbers next to a chain link fence. — The SMILE Plus dental clinic at Machray School on Mountain Avenue was recently renovated to include new X-ray machines and upgraded private practice rooms. (Travis Golby/CBC)

The SMILE Plus program has been offered at the clinic for more than 30 years and has helped approximately 3,000 to 4,000 kids each year, said a news release about the renovations.

Families must submit an income tax return and qualify based on their total household income and the size of their family.

The program also cares for school-age kids who have limited dental coverage through First Nations and Inuit Health, employment and income assistance, refugee status or the Canadian dental care plan.

Pam Godfrey said her two daughters, who are now 16 and 20, have both used the clinic for more than 10 years.

“My daughter used to be so scared of those needles, but they just always eased her mind … and of course affordability is very important,” Godfrey said.

Her youngest daughter had a chip in a tooth and got it fixed at the clinic over eight appointments.

“It really helped, ’cause she needed to get that tooth fixed,” she said. “Now she can smile with confidence.”

A woman sits on a chair holding a tool used to suction excess saliva from people's mouths during dental appointments. — Robin Thompson, senior dental assistant at SMILE Plus, said the program has a big impact in the community. (Travis Golby/CBC)

Robin Thompson, a senior dental assistant, said families who hear about the program are so happy and grateful it exists.

“There’s a huge need for it in our community. There are many many families that are living [on] a lower income, so we try and meet families where they are,” Thompson said.

The clinic runs through a partnership with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and the University of Manitoba faculty of dentistry that sees fourth-year students complete their clinical rotation there.

Staff also do community outreach work by offering dental care and oral health education at other schools in the city, Thompson said.

“I really think that we’re making a difference in our community,” she said.