LA GRANDE – The Oregon Dental Service School of Dental Hygiene, its students and local dentists will participate in National Give Kids a Smile Day on Friday.

The event is planned from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the ODS School of Dental Hygiene, 909 Adams Ave.

“The children will be treated on a first-come, first-served basis,” said Debra James, the school’s executive director. “We plan to treat 40 children so they need to show up right at 8 in order to get a number in line.”

Give Kids a Smile Day is a national event promoted by the American Dental Association with the mission of providing dental treatment for uninsured children who would not normally receive dental care. Two Pendleton dentists, Dr. Donald Harsch and Dr. Donald Benschoter, are among a dozen area dentists who will join students from the ODS School of Dental Hygiene to provide care for the children.

“This is a wonderful event and we are thrilled to have the support of so many local dentists,” said Debra James, the school’s executive director.

“Too many of Eastern Oregon’s children are forced to live with painful dental problems,” she added, “and we are pleased to be able to take part in an event that helps address this important issue.”

The ODS School of Dental Hygiene, a private-public partnership between ODS, Eastern Oregon University and Oregon Institute of Technology, opened in September 2005. It has 48 students enrolled.

ODS, based in Portland, is a multi-faceted organization that provides dental, medical and professional liability insurance products, along with a variety of business services including dental practice management software and benefits administration.