Spokane dental clinic offers free emergency care for first responders on wildfire duty

Avenue Dental Care North Spokane is holding same-day emergency slots and waiving costs for firefighters, EMS crews, law enforcement and dispatchers serving in Spokane County’s wildfire response. The offer is aimed at first responders working 24-hour shifts or deployed rotations who cannot easily access regular office hours.

Why it matters: - First responders working wildfire response often cannot get dental care during standard business hours. - Avenue Dental Care North Spokane is trying to remove both timing and cost barriers for emergency dental treatment. - The offer covers firefighters, EMS personnel, law enforcement officers and 911 dispatchers, including out-of-area personnel deployed to current fires.

What happened: - Avenue Dental Care North Spokane, led by Dr. Navdeep Virk, is reserving same-day emergency dental slots for first responders serving in the current wildfire response across Spokane County and eastern Washington. - The clinic is waiving out-of-pocket costs for qualifying emergency visits. - The program is available Monday through Friday. - Patients on 24-hour shifts or deployed rotations are asked to call ahead so the practice can hold a slot.

The details: - The offer includes a free emergency dental appointment, with an exam, necessary X-rays and urgent treatment as clinically indicated. - Eligible issues include pain, infection, swelling, broken or knocked-out teeth, and lost fillings or crowns. - Verification requires a department ID, badge or deployment paperwork. - Availability is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. - The clinic is located at 755 E Holland Ave, Spokane, WA 99218. - The office phone number is (509) 467-8000. - Avenue Dental Care North Spokane is not affiliated with the Spokane Fire Department, Spokane County Fire District or IAFF Local 29. - The clinic says residents should follow Spokane County Emergency Management and Spokane Regional Emergency Communications for evacuation levels, air quality and shelter information. - Avenue Dental Care North Spokane says Dr. Navdeep Virk and Dr. Gregg Liedtka provide general, cosmetic, restorative, implant and emergency dental care. - The clinic’s website is More information.

Between the lines: - Dr. Virk framed the effort as a scheduling fix as much as a financial one. - Spokane Fire Department crews responded to 54,312 calls in 2024, and about 82 percent were medical calls. - That workload has been further stretched by wildfire response duties. - The department traces its roots to volunteer companies formed in 1884, and IAFF Local 29 was chartered in 1918.

What’s next: - The clinic is expected to continue offering same-day emergency slots while wildfire response remains active. - First responders needing care are being urged to call before arriving so the office can reserve time. - Avenue Dental Care North Spokane can be reached at (509) 467-8000.

The bottom line: - The program is designed to make urgent dental care workable for first responders whose shifts and deployments often collide with normal clinic hours.