Dentist, patient have something to smile about

EVERETT – Her attitude was great. But her teeth were brown and crooked.

And that was what people noticed.

The 38-year-old Everett woman had recently lost the minimum wage-job she had held for close to 10 years.

She wanted to find a new job. But her teeth were standing in the way, according to Beverly Carlson, a Workforce Investment Act case manager at WorkSource Everett.

The woman was diligent about brushing her teeth, but “because her teeth were so bad, it affected her oral hygiene and her breath,” Carlson said.

“My big concern was in an interview situation that even though she has a terrific personality, people would be going, ‘Whoa, maybe we have some hygiene issues here,’ ” Carlson said.

So Carlson called Arlington dentist John Dykstra. She hoped her friend would be willing to perform a checkup and possibly a cleaning for her client in exchange for a small amount of service dollars available to some WorkSource clients.

Instead, Dykstra donated nearly $3,000 worth of dental work.

He filled the woman’s cavities and installed a lower denture plate. He’s also in the process of giving her an upper partial plate.

“Her appearance really hasn’t changed much at all until she smiles,” Dykstra said. “Now she has a much prettier smile. Before when she smiled, she had a lot of decayed teeth.”

Dykstra’s donation caught the attention of the Snohomish County Workforce Development Council.

The organization recently honored him and 33 other community members, WorkSource clients, case managers and organizations at the fourth annual Celebrate Success dinner and award ceremony.

The honorees include an 18-year-old father who recently earned his GED and a job as a plumber’s apprentice, and a formerly homeless Iraq veteran who now makes $14 an hour doing welding work.

Carlson said Dykstra gave her client a well-deserved break.

“She’s warm, and she’s friendly, and she likes to smile. And now she’s going to have a smile that really reflects her inner beauty,” she said.The woman has more than pretty teeth to smile about.

She has a new job. She was scheduled to start work as a cook at the Tulalip Casino.

Honorees at the Snohomish County Workforce Development Council’s recent Celebrate Success dinner and awards ceremony:

The Everett School District for Project Supporting Teens At Risk, which provides drop-out prevention, intervention and retrieval services for youth.

Goodrich Aviation Technical Services.

Ken Muncie, detail department manager at the Lynnwood Cycle Barn.

Larry Galli, retired director of Everett Public Schools’ career and technical education program.

The Materials Process and Development Center, a partnership between Everett and Edmonds community colleges.

Courtney Dukes and her case manager, Linda Custer.

Jonathon Wilson and Everett Public Schools graduation success coordinator Delicia St. Jock.

Chris Grigsby and his readiness case manager, Vicki Halbakken.

Cody Sullivan and his case manager, Chaney Varelas.

Elena Haas and her case manager, Beverly Carlson.