Evan Hill didn't have a chance to be a happy kid. His buck teeth protruded so much he couldn't even close his mouth. It made him a target for schoolyard bullies and even vicious taunts of "rabbit kid" from adults. His mother had tried everything, and was even prepared to mortgage her home for the treatment Evan needed.

Now she doesn't have to.

The community rallied behind Evan and his mother, Barbara Erickson in a big way. Offering thousands of dollars in donations to go towards the orthodontic work that Evan needed.

That was five years ago, and now, finally, Evan gets to show off the smile that was purchased by the kindness of strangers.

"I don't know where we would have been today without the generosity we had," Erickson told Newshub.

Orthodontist Ronald Sluiter worked with Evan once a month for five years. Tightening, straightening and correcting. By the end Evan's teeth had moved over half an inch.

Click to the next page to see what Evan looks like now!

People spend a staggering amount of money on dental work every single year. In 2010, American's spent $106 billion on dental work and care. Even so, millions of families and children don't get the dental work they need because of the high price.

Erickson and Hill know how lucky they were to have a community willing to step up for them. After the genorosity and hard work of the staff and Evan, he was finally ready to show the world his smile.

"We've come a long way haven't we," he told Evan, finally removing the braces.

They sure had.

Now Evan will get the chance to smile confidently and not worry about what others are thinking. The donations that weren't used for Evan have been used to start a trust to help other children get the dental work their families can't afford.