There was a flurry of activity and energy at Adams School of Dentistry at the University of North Carolina on Friday, February 7, as the school hosted its annual Give Kids A Smile event.
The American Dental Association Foundation’s Give Kids A Smile program was launched nationally by the American Dental Association in 2003 and since then, more than 5.5 million underserved children have received free oral health care services. These no-cost services are provided by volunteers, including approximately 10,000 dentists annually, along with 30,000 other dental team members. ASOD has participated for 11 years, and dental students are tasked with planning and organizing the event to give back to the community.
This year, ASOD providers saw 174 patients, offering procedures such as extractions, stainless steel crowns, fillings, sealants and cleanings. The total value of care was more than $70,000. Other contributions included a grant from Dental Smiles for Kids, donations of IsoVac mouthpieces from Zyris Dental and personal donations from ASOD faculty and alumni.
Ben Lee and Ysabella Gallo, DDS ’26 candidates, served as clinic co-chairs this year and organized the event. They are also part of ASOD’s American Association of Pediatric Dentistry chapter and are dedicated to helping the world’s future leaders, children.
“The most rewarding part of the Give Kids A Smile event was witnessing firsthand the impact we made on the children and their families. From seeing children relieved of pain to watching them proudly show off their smiles after a cleaning, this experience truly demonstrated how vital it is to provide care for underserved youth,” Gallo said.
Lee believes that service is a core tenet of the philosophy of care at ASOD and is an important reason why he chose the school for his dental education. “GKAS has always been my favorite day of the year at the dental school! The most meaningful part of the day is seeing all the members of our community –– students, staff, and faculty –– working tirelessly together toward a common cause with their infatuating energy and dedication,” he said.
Family interactions are what really make the event a success. Caitlin Toomey brought her children Donald, 3, Catia, 5, and Clifford, 6. She said she loved the fun atmosphere the organizers created and plans to attend again.
“I have three kids and taking them to the dentist is very hard. I’ve had experiences taking them to the dentist where they aren’t prepared for the amount of chaos that my family brings, but today there were a lot of people to help, a lot of assistance, and people were ready for us. My 3-year old hates getting his teeth brushed and the dentist is his worst nightmare, but they made it easy for him.” Toomey said.
Kristen Moore has been bringing her children to the event for the past three years. She comes because her son Jason, age 10, and his eight brothers and sisters get the care they need and really enjoy the festivities.
“I got my teeth cleaned and got a new toothbrush got my face painted as a tiger. [This event] is better than usually going to the dentist,” said Jason, with a huge smile on his face.
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