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Changing lives one wish, and one smile, at a time
As a little boy, Dr. Wynn Okuda hated the dentist. He recalls clutching at the upholstery of his dentist’s chair, his mouth invaded by drills and cold metal tools–all without anesthetics. These negative experiences, however, are precisely what inspired his own work as a world-renowned cosmetic dentist, one who is committed not just to treating teeth, but the patients behind them–and to making a difference in the process.
Dr. Okuda’s approach is all about giving hope to those who need it most: the patients who haven’t seen a dentist in years out of fear, who believe their smiles can’t be fixed, who hide their teeth in pictures and video calls. His innovative, patient-focused approach–featuring a combination of accelerated dental treatment plans and spa services–has established him as a top name in the field. Patients from around the world routinely fly to Honolulu to receive one of his signature smile makeovers.
Dr. Okuda’s commitment to changing lives one smile at a time extends beyond the walls of his dental office. In addition to educating other dentists as an international speaker and author, he is the co-founder of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Charitable Foundation’s Give Back A Smile program, which has provided over $20 million worth of dental services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence nationwide since 1999.
I change people’s lives one smile at a time. And Make-A-Wish changes lives one wish at a time. There’s a lot of synergy there–a lot of Aloha in what we both do.
Dr. Wynn Okuda
Dental Day Spa of Hawaii
Despite his far-reaching success as a dental artist, international speaker, and philanthropist, Dr. Okuda has always remained true to his roots here in Hawaii. The son of Japanese immigrants, he was born and raised on Oahu, attended McKinley High School, and has been practicing out of his Honolulu office for over 30 years.
“I felt it was important to stay here and help my local community,” says Dr. Okuda of his mission to make cutting-edge dental care available to those in Hawaii.
When the COVID-19 pandemic reached the islands, Dr. Okuda sought new ways to leverage his talents toward transforming lives. He approached Make-A-Wish Hawaii President and CEO Trini Kaopuiki Clark, a recipient of his services during her reign as Miss Hawaii USA 1999, with the idea of auctioning a smile makeover for our annual gala.
The partnership was a huge success, raising $15,000 in 2020 to grant life-changing wishes for keiki fighting critical illnesses and an additional $18,500 in 2021. Now, as Dr. Okuda generously prepares to offer this auction item for the third year in a row, he reflects on the positive impact it has had for all involved.
“It’s a win-win,” he says, as it not only changes the lives of Hawaii wish keiki but of the local auction winners receiving new smiles too. He summarizes how his mission aligns with that of Make-A-Wish Hawaii: “To me, it’s all about hope.”
“I want to use my skill set to help local people,” says Dr. Okuda. “And I want to encourage people to use their talents too. You don’t have to donate money; you can use your time and talent and do something positive."
