HOT PURSUIT

When I was growing up, I fantasized over the Tooth Fairy from time to time. Though I never met the fairy, it was always a pleasant experience with a few extra bucks in my pocket. But it was nothing like what area children have these days.

For the past 10 years, kids in Steele County have been fortunate to have the Smile Fairy. The biggest difference is they get to see and hear from her. More on why she’s not the Tooth Fairy in a little bit.

Holly Jorgensen of Owatonna portrays the Smile Fairy, a highly energized personality that electrifies the room and any audience she gets before. She engages her audiences in a pink outfit with a tutu by reading books and sharing dental prevention. She is fully animated with her knowledge and ability to connect and not surprisingly, she loves to smile.

Jorgensen has been a dental hygienist for the past 30 years. She moved to Owatonna in 2007 from Iowa.

In 2013, she founded the nonprofit organization, Let’s Smile, Inc., after realizing many dentists were no longer accepting Medicaid insurance.

“I was heartbroken,” Jorgensen said, noting many families were left with no dental care and didn't know where to turn next.

At the time, Jorgensen’s husband, Curt, looked at her and said, “It’s about time you do something.”

With a ton of dental experience, but no business background, Jorgensen turned to others for help. She found the help she needed in Dom Korbel, who is now the director of Community Pathways. Korbel helped her organize Let’s Smile Inc.

Over the past decade, Let’s Smile has grown to where it helps more than 700 children each year with dental care. Another 1,000 children get Let’s Smile’s prevention program in the schools and daycares. Its mission is one of a kind in Minnesota.

Asked what would happen without Let’s Smile, Jorgensen’s smile quickly diminished, and she said, “Well, I would cry.” She is most concerned about what would happen to the children who need dental care.

“They would not get dental care at all,” said Jorgensen, noting her clients are provided free care while some have minimal insurance coverage. “There would be a lot of children not accessing dental care.”

And she’s already experienced horror stories with some kids who have gone five years without dental care.

Said Jorgensen of her nonprofit work, “It’s in my heart, and it’s my passion.”

There have been many bumps along the way, including her stint as the Tooth Fairy. For the first couple years, she was the Tooth Fairy’s helper. One day she found a boy who didn’t like her and began crying. When Jorgensen pressed further, the boy told her, “The Tooth Fairy doesn’t come to my house.”

“His heart was broken,” Jorgensen said.

And so was Jorgensen’s.

She quickly learned the hard way that the Tooth Fairy doesn’t come to all houses.

After that ordeal, Jorgensen switched to the Smile Fairy. “Smiles are free. I give you a smile, and you give me your smiles,” she said. “I’m the only Smile Fairy out there. I cannot be a Tooth Fairy.”

Now Jorgensen can’t think of anything better than being the Smile Fairy.

“I just love it,” she says. “I love watching the kids get excited,” she said, adding she has been known to do happy dances with kids who later recognize her while shopping in the grocery store.

At the end of the day, Jorgensen said she goes home and feels good about herself.

“I know I have made a difference.”

Nothing is stopping Jorgensen from going in hot pursuit of continuing to provide smiles and dental prevention tips to children throughout the area.