Give Kids a Smile event makes oral health care fun for families in need

The School of Dentistry held its annual Give Kids a Smile event on February 7, providing care and fun for nearly 100 children.

Established by the American Dental Association in 2003, Give Kids a Smile is a national event that provides free dental care to children and helps them to find a dental home. The School of Dentistry is in its 22nd year of participation. 

A team of third-year DDS students chair the entirely student-run event each year, coordinating faculty, staff and student volunteers to make the day a success. This year’s co-chairs include Jamisen Hannafin, DDS ’27, Martha Lucas, DDS ’27, and Brianna Murano, DDS ’27. 

It’s appropriate that Martha Lucas is one of the co-chairs, because her path to dentistry started when she herself was just a child. Watching her dentist and orthodontist run their practices was enlightening. “They managed so many moving parts and people at once, and I greatly admired their skill set,” she recalled. “Their personalities were infectious, and they always made me feel comfortable and valued.” 

Lucas wanted to emulate that herself—and she found a passion in caring for patients both young and old, “building meaningful relationships across generations and serving my own community through dentistry.” She volunteered with Minneapolis nonprofit Ready, Set, Smile as an undergraduate, which opened her eyes further to the value that providing care to children has—and encouraged her to participate in Give Kids a Smile as a dental student.

“In the clinics, I have already had several patients tell me their parents never taught them to take care of their teeth,” she said. “Being part of Give Kids a Smile has allowed me to intercept this pathway and step in early to help change the direction some of these children may be headed with their oral health. Helping patients develop a foundational oral health skillset and understand the importance of caring for their teeth has been the most meaningful part of my involvement.”

For this year’s event, Lucas and her co-chairs partnered with local organizations to reach approximately 100 children who need oral health care. Each child receives a comprehensive exam and X-rays, which determine a treatment plan. Treatment might include prophylaxis, composite restorations, crown placement, extractions or pulpotomies. 

Volunteers complete as much treatment as possible during the event, and grant funds raised by the Give Kids a Smile committee cover any remaining treatment needs for the next six months. This helps families to establish a dental home at the School of Dentistry, where they can return for follow up and preventative care. 

Committed to making the most of each family’s time, volunteers also set up stations with oral hygiene education and information. Students from the School of Social work provided community resource information, and representatives from Portico shared information on health insurance. A visit from Goldy Gopher and the Tooth Fairy, coloring pages and an “under the sea” theme brought fun and excitement to the day.

“While the main goal is to provide free dental care, we also want the day to be a positive and memorable experience, helping children associate the dentist with happy memories,” Lucas reflected. “The day is always filled with so much joy and laughter. That is one of the best parts of Give Kids a Smile!”