Wine, Toothbrushes and Generosity: Moorpark Dentist Celebrated at County Meeting
Sylvie Belmond 
Dr. Zachary Potts (left) stands with his father and brother—both fellow dentists—in a photo he shared during the Ventura County Board of Supervisors meeting. Potts credited his late father’s generosity as the inspiration behind his free dental care program, Smiles From the Heart.
(CLAIR | Ventura County) — Before jumping into tax rates and building codes, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors took a moment on Tuesday to honor someone making a difference with a dental drill instead of a gavel.
Dr. Zachary Potts, a Camarillo native and local dentist, was recognized as the county’s latest “Moment of Inspiration” for his work creating Smiles From the Heart—a volunteer-run event that offers free dental care to anyone who needs it.
Since 2013, the event has helped more than 1,200 patients and provided an estimated $400,000 in free cleanings, fillings and extractions, according to Potts. The team has hosted 12 events total and typically sees about 125 patients at each one.
Potts, who owns Moorpark Center for Dentistry, runs the event with support from local volunteers. Two years ago, the program partnered with the Free Clinic of Simi Valley, allowing it to reach even more people in need.
“There’s a very large population that can’t afford care—uninsured, unemployed, or just overwhelmed with other expenses,” Potts told the board. He added that people line up overnight in lawn chairs and blankets just to be seen.
The events have even launched careers. Potts shared the story of Angela, a dental hygienist who once saw the long line of patients, volunteered, and was inspired to enroll in the dental hygiene program in Oxnard. After graduating, she joined his team full-time. “We’ve hired many of our volunteers,” he said.
His father and brother, both dentists, also began hosting similar events in their own offices after helping out at his, Potts said. His father, who inspired much of the effort, passed away earlier this year.
“He was always so generous and giving,” Potts said. “I miss him every day.”
The patients are the reason we keep doing this, he said, recalling the gratitude and hugs from those treated. Potts said the team is looking to expand the events to more locations and offer them more often. The next clinic is scheduled for March 2026.
Supervisor Janice Parvin, who was mayor of Moorpark when the events began, recalled volunteering early on and confirmed she still owns one of the event’s t-shirts. “I do,” she said proudly.
As the board thanked him, Parvin lightened the mood by mentioning Potts’s way of easing dental anxiety:
“He actually offers wine—but you have to drink it fast,” she joked, “because they show up in your room right away.”
Following the recognition, the board moved into its formal agenda, which included votes on tax rates, labor agreements and environmental policy. But for a few minutes, the focus was on a local effort that’s restored dignity—and dental health—for hundreds across Ventura County.
