Smiles All Around at Annual Event for Kids in Need

Each year, dental professionals across the country, including School of Dentistry students, participate in Give Kids a Smile. They provide free dental care to children in need, including examinations, x-rays, cleanings and fluoride varnishes, as well as some follow-up care. Our University is just one of many places that participates in the national Give Kids a Smile program, which was established by the American Dental Association in 2003.

This year’s day-long event was held on February 8, when over 100 volunteers, including DDS, dental hygiene and dental therapy students and faculty members from all departments, worked together to provide oral health care to children and their families. The event served 66 patients, even on a day with a major snowstorm.

Give Kids a Smile was co-chaired by third year dental students Bridget Ahern ‘26, Charlie Brimacombe ‘26  and Libby Isaacson ‘26. “This is a completely student-run initiative, with guidance from our faculty advisors,” Ahern said. Our primary goal is to establish a ‘dental home’ for underserved children in our community through funding scholarships for future dental care, ensuring they receive continuous care and return to us for their dental needs.” One bright spot to help achieve that goal, Ahern said, was that a member of the Portico insurance staff was on hand that day, and able to get some families signed up for insurance. This will make an impact on these families' lives for years to come.”

There are many moving parts to planning a volunteer event as large-scale as this one, and Ahern said that one of the biggest challenges was securing adequate funding. “We apply for as many grants as we qualify for, but dental care can be quite costly,” she said. “Unfortunately, the funding we receive doesn’t always cover all of the treatment needs our patients have, so we continue to work on raising more support.”

Many of the children who attended the event had never visited a dentist before or have limited access to oral health care. “I’ve been a part of this committee since my first year of dental school, and I’ve witnessed the positive impact that Give Kids a Smile has on these children's lives,” Ahern said. “Beyond treating immediate needs, we also focus on educating them about habits that will ensure they can maintain a healthy smile.”