BY KAREN BOSSICK

As a dentist, Brian Galbraith tends to hone in on smiles.

And he’s never seen a Higher Ground participant without a smile, regardless of the trauma they may have experienced fighting in Afghanistan or Iraq.

That’s why he couldn’t say no when a volunteer involved with the wounded warriors program asked if his Sun Valley Dental might help when one of the participants showed up at a therapeutic recreation camp with a swollen face.

Fixing the massive infection caused by an abscess at his Ketchum office was easy enough. He took a 3D image, treated the abscess, put the patient on antibiotics and transferred their records to the patient’s hospital back home for follow-up care.

But Galbraith began wondering how many veterans had trouble getting their teeth cared for in the midst of the chaos of treating other visible or invisible wounds.

Teeth are often the last thing to be addressed when money’s tight, and many veterans are unable to work because of the disabilities they incurred during their deployment, he reasoned. So Galbraith decided to team up with Higher Ground Sun Valley to offer free dental care to disabled veterans who have experienced post traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury and other disabilities.

 “After meeting with the director and finding out more about their needs and pairing my own knowledge of how positive Higher Ground’s purpose is through all the participants I’ve met personally, offering my services to them was a no brainer,” he said.

“We’ve already been able to help several military veterans in their program, and it’s been a joy and privilege to be part of. Veterans of the U.S. military put their lives on the line for all of our freedoms so giving back is the least we can do. They shouldn’t have to worry about teeth problems on top of having life debilitating problems.”

This isn’t the first time Galbraith has given of his talents to put a smile on the faces of others in need.

He and his staff screened dozens of youngsters who came to Sun Valley from around the world for the World Winter Special Olympics in 2009.

And he created Share Your Smile, a dental service program for Idaho children with cancer in 2006. As such, he has seen and treated children with cancer participating in Camp Rainbow Gold at Cathedral Pines. Those fighting cancer have a greater risk of cavities because radiation and chemotherapy dry out tissues and salivary glands, which are tasked with helping to keep teeth clean.

Sarah Adicoff, a young teen-ager from Sun Valley with cancer, inspired him to create it.

“She showed me what it means to be valiant, hopeful, humble and courageous as a young woman fighting for her life. I will always remember her example and how kind and personable she was despite her battle,” Galbraith said.

Sun Valley Dental also donates free whitening and other services at fundraising events, such as Idaho Relay for Life, which raises money to fight cancer. Sun Valley Dental had a team in last summer’s Relay, where one of its team members served as the keynote speaker.

Galbraith is pleased that he’s made so many people smile.

Right now he, his wife and daughter are concentrating on one of the Wood River Valley’s newest smiles—that of three month-old Asher Galbraith.

“He is already competing for best smile in the house,” said Galbraith. “He has some stiff competition, but he’s a favorite.”

For more information, go to www.sunvalleysmiles.com or call 208-726-4711.

If you know of an injured veteran who needs help, contact Higher Ground Sun Valley at www.highergroundsv.org or 208-726-9298.