Richland single dad could not afford dental work to end pain. Now he’s smiling again

A Richland single father expected to spend up to five hours undergoing dental surgery and other dental work Monday to end years of pain.

“He’ll walk out with a whole new smile,” said Sean Simper, a dentist at Southridge Dental.

Brian Willard, 33, is the fourth annual winner of a free “Smile Again Surgery” organized by Columbia Basin Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of Kennewick.

He’s hoping that the estimated $30,000 worth of free dental work will end years of mouth pain and swelling of his face, he said.

He was picked from among about 200 people who applied this fall for critical dental treatment they were unable to otherwise afford.

The staff picking the winner zeroed in on his past history of poor dental care and his inability to afford extensive dental work now, said dentist Todd Cooper, an oral surgeon with Columbia Basin Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

It’s been a decade since Willard had been to a dentist, Willard said before surgery early Monday morning at the Kennewick oral surgery center.

He’s a delivery driver without insurance, living paycheck to paycheck as he focuses on providing a safe and healthy life for his sons.

Son wants father to be pain free

“I want to be the best role model for my kids, and I’d love to be able to smile in photos with them without feeling ashamed of my teeth,” Willard said.

He smiles, just with his mouth closed, said his oldest son, Vander Willard, 11.

Years of practice have helped Willard to perfect the ability to talk while not showing his teeth, he said.

Monday morning was expected to start with Cooper removing Willard’s remaining four upper teeth and a lower tooth that was too badly decayed to save.

Cooper planned to give him four to six implants, which will hold in place false teeth fabricated by Simper.

His mother, Katie Booher, of Connell, prompted her son to apply for the Smile Again Surgery program. She hopes the new smile will make him more outgoing.

It will make it easier to talk to people, Willard said.

Willard said he’d learned to live with the pain his teeth caused, but his oldest son still sees the pain.

“I hope your face does not hurt anymore,” Vander said.

This story was originally published December 30, 2019 at 12:45 PM.